Come home with a rich haul: Gambhir

COLOMBO: The Indian cricket team may be in the midst of a one-day series with Sri Lanka, but their thoughts are with the members of the Indian Olympic squad in London. On Friday, opener Gautam Gambhir wished the Indian contingent all the luck in their effort to garner their biggest-ever haul at an Olympics. Gambhir refused to predict how many medals he expected the Indians to win in London. "When I can't predict what will happen in Saturday's (third ODI) match here, how can I predict the number of medals our athletes will win? But from my personal experience, I can tell you that representing the country itself is the greatest achievement and honour for any sportsperson. There is no player who would not give off his best." Gambhir was also happy to see the media giving so much importance to Olympics. "Why only cricket, we would like to see all other sports flourish in our county. The Olympics, being a multi-event jamboree held every four years, is followed worldwide. Sportspersons as famous as Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova consider it an honour to represent their country at the Games. "As a cricketer surely I am happy that my sport is so popular in India, but other sports need to be encouraged and made popular too. So I am happy that the media back home is taking interest in Olympics, "Gambhir added. On being asked if the team would follow the Indian athletes' fortunes at the Olympics, he said as the team was in midst of a series, they may not get the time to follow the events live. "But yes, we will try to update ourselves of the progress of the medal prospects in shooting, boxing, archery, badminton and other games."