5, Indias independence day, and to get herself in the spirit of things, Srabani has painted her nails in the colours of the tri-colour. There is an almost uncontrollable giggle

Apurvi Chandela doesnt say much. She is a little pint of a girl, with a ready smile and a generally warm disposition. She hung around at the official welcoming ceremony for the Indian contingent at the athletes village in Rio on Tuesday with with a slightly detached visage. She took photographs in the musical acts, she stood erect as the national anthem played, she posed politely for some pictures. But she didnt want to talk shooting. So probing journalists were politely rebuffed with a Well talk about shooting after my event.Who can blame her? It is four days away, this moment she has prepared for diligently for the better part of her adult life. Shes won big medals before but this is really the biggest deal of all. She is trying not to be consumed by its quest but you can tell, Apurvi cant help but be. So while a celebratory air engulfs her fellow athletes in the Indian contingent as they collect at Rio, Apurvi is an island of distant calm. Unlike some of her colleagues, there is no time to soak in the nice weather, the warm people or any of the sights and sounds at her debut Olympics. The opening ceremony will have barely wrapped up before Apurvi will make her way to the shooting range, ready to take aim in the 10m Air Rifle.Apurvis poised intensity is in sharp contrast with the ebullience of other first timers in the contingent. Perhaps unburdened by the expectations of a medal finish, sprinter Srabani Nanda is chirpy and up for a chat. The 25-year old is Indias premier 200m runner and at her first Olympics, has limited aspirations. Beating her own national mark of 22.82 seconds is an agenda item and spurred on by the quality of competition she will face, Srabani expects to get it done. She runs in the heats of her event on August 15, Indias independence day, and to get herself in the spirit of things, Srabani has painted her nails in the colours of the tri-colour. There is an almost uncontrollable giggle in her voice as she looks around and finds herself rubbing shoulders with the elite of her sport.To qualify for the Olympics was a dream, I hadnt managed last time in London because of some problems, she says. Getting here is the result of a lot of hard work, from my entire team. I am now hopeful of receiving even more support so I can make everyone proud.Srabanis enthusiasm is matched by the girls that make up Indias hockey team. On a pilgrimage of their own having made the cut for the first time since 1980, this is a group bubbling with excitable energy. They start against Japan on August 7 before taking on Great Britain, Australia, USA and Argentina in their remaining group fixtures. As the lowest ranked team in their group, the girls will need to construct a sparkling run to make quarterfinals. But having come so far, there is an infectious belief that their journey can be extended.These girls deserve their moment, says the teams assistant coach C R Kumar. Ranking is important but it really is about the team performing on that given day. Our first game against Japan is the most important one for us. If we start well, that will make the rest of the campaign easier as there will be lesser burden to carry.Indias plucky new generation of athletes is primed for the the task at hand. Some might embrace the surround sound of a mega event such as the Olympics with greater gusto than others, but none need reminding this a special time in their lives. The glint in each of their eyes says it all. Nike React Shoes Online . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. Wholesale Nike React Shoes .com) - Yankee Stadium is the home of the Bronx Bombers, but on Sunday afternoon it will open its gates to host the latest addition of the Hudson River Rivalry. http://www.wholesalenikereact.com/ . Instead of dwelling on the negative, Oates focused on what was good about the clubs recent play. It worked. Nike React Cheap Wholesale .Y. - Nelson Mandela will be honoured by the New York Yankees with a plaque in Monument Park. Nike React Discount .C. -- Calgarys Kevin Koe did it the hard way again.England opener Haseeb Hameed insists he is unfazed by the prospect of making his Test debut against the best side in the world. Hameed was confirmed as Alastair Cooks new opening partner on Tuesday morning ahead of the first Test against India, making the 19-year-old just the sixth teenager to play for England.And speaking to Sky Sports News HQ, he cut an impressively calm figure ahead of facing the worlds No 1 Test bowler Ravichandran Ashwin. Hameed will be the sixth teenager to represent England I see it as an exciting challenge. Its nothing to be afraid of, he said. Hammed and the young ones How teenage players performed on their England debuts Im 19, coming up against the best bowler in the world, the best team in the world - it will be a great challenge and either way it will be a great experience for me and Im sure at the end of the tour Ill be a better player either way.Im delighted to have got the call. Im looking forward to it, he said. Find out a little bit about 19-year-old Haseeb Hameed as he prepares to make his international debut when England face India in the first Test I think its going to be an exciting series, I feel like its an exciting side to be part of.dddddddddddd We go into the series as underdogs and its probably the biggest challenge in cricket right now, coming to India and beating them but its one that were looking forward to.We have prepared well the last couple of days and its time to crack on now.Its important that we go in confident of our abilities as a side. Weve done some very good stuff in recent times so if we stick to that Im sure well have a good series.India squad: Gambhir, Vijay, Nair, Kohli, Pujara, Rahane, Saha, Ashwin, Mishra, Jadeja, Sharma, Shami, Yadav, PandyaEngland squad: Cook, Ali, Ansari, Bairstow, Ball, Ballance, Batty, Broad, Buttler, Duckett, Finn, Hameed, Rashid, Root, Stokes, Woakes, Anderson (unavailable for 1st Test) India vs England November 9, 2016, 3:30am Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass Also See: Hameed to make debut Ben Duckett blog Inside track on India Hameed and The Young Ones ' ' '