It was heart-warming to see the colourful send-off of the smartly dressed Indian Olympic teams on the television. With improving standards, sport in India is at a high. The government has realised the importance of sport as an international image builder. Money has been doled out for training and coaching and rich rewards promised to the winners.

Hopes for medals are soaring. Most belong to the realms of fantasy. Some are dreams, which at times come true. And then, of course, there are some realistic chances. At such high levels, even the greatest of champions need a measure of luck. So many world champions in the past have failed to win an Olympic gold!

For India the hope of gold in tennis, in the men’s doubles, is possible. Paes and Bhupathi have all the correct credentials. Ranked No.1 in the world in 1999 till ballistic egos blew them apart, they are cooing and billing like young lovers again. “Non-stop chest-butts, high fives and the chemistry of 99”, as Paes put it, are propelling them towards the Olympic slogan Altius, Citius, Fortius. In one fell swoop they have swept aside the lingering doubts we harboured about their partnership by winning their very first preparatory tournament, the Toronto Masters.

En route to the final, they beat three of the world’s top ten teams. It was an amazing performance. A time warp had taken them back to the halcyon days of 1999. Even with the most outstanding sportsmen, gold is never a certainty in the Olympics.

Both Paes and Bhupathi are unlikely to be overawed by the occasion or succumb to Olympic pressures

Modern doubles is played at an unbelievable speed. It requires the highest level of skills and lightning reflexes. Every angle, every shot, soft dinks, bullet like volleys or spinning lobs can map out a single breathtaking point in the twinkling of an eye. One reads that chance rules all. It certainly rules in men’s doubles. The match can hinge on one misunderstanding or a missed volley or interception. You have to have nerves of steel and be brave of heart.

Often the man at the net is in a dilemma — to intercept or not to intercept the opponent’s return. Hesitation is fatal. Here is where instinct rules and Paes’ instinct guides him well. I remember his first Davis Cup doubles at Chandigarh against Japan in 1989 when he was only 16. As captain, I gave him full freedom and told him to do exactly what he thought was right.

His unpredictable and outrageous interceptions put a disciplined but superior Japanese team into disarray and confusion, winning a five hour- 20 minute marathon 17-15 in the fifth set, after being match points down. Instinct cannot be taught, either you have it or you don’t. I remember chatting that evening to Ramanathan Krishnan, the epitome of rigid discipline. He just kept shaking his head laughing and saying, “I can’t believe it!”

Balance is one of the most important factors in life and in sport. So, a great doubles team must be well balanced. Bhupathi is like the tanpura in Indian classical music, unperturbed and strumming the right notes with his big serve and double-fisted backhand, setting the stage for Paes’ marauding net play. His reach, consistency, great reflexes and fighting spirit make him a perfect partner for Paes. Having won several Grand Slam titles, both Paes and Bhupathi are unlikely to be overawed by the occasion or succumb to Olympic pressures.

After reading what I have said earlier, it seems that I have sent Paes and Bhupathi halfway up the victory stand. But, when I read the names of the other teams, I feel nervous. The Bryan brothers of the US, Black & Ullyett of Zimbabwe, Llodra and Santoro of France, Rodriquez and Etlis of Argentina, Arthurs and Hanley of Australia (that is, if they don’t split up and induct Todd Woodbridge in place of Hanley) are some of the teams who are equally good.

All are very tough and seasoned competitors who will fight to the finish and give absolutely nothing away. The men’s doubles event is like a chequer board where ultimately destiny will make the final moves.

In men’s singles, destiny has partly exposed its hand. Federer, who left a spectacular vapour trail of 23 winning matches before he hit an air pocket and lost to Dominic Hrbaty of Slovakia, should be an odds-on bet for the gold. He has tamed the brute power of Roddick, who in my view is the best of the rest of the field.

But injuries now play a major role in the results of matches, more so in the men’s events. The margins are paper thin, and a niggle in one of the muscles could well be the difference between defeat and victory.

The Williams sisters, Henin Hardenne & Clijsters who would have been strong contenders in the women’s event are all sidelined with injuries.

In their absence, the tussle for gold will be between Sharapova, Capriati, Davenport and Mauresmo. On recent form, Davenport, a former Wimbledon champion, seems to have an outstanding chance. For Sharapova, it will be a testing time. She needs to win to prove that her Wimbledon win was no flash in the pan.