Officials preferred to concentrate on the nation's medals prospects ahead of the Doha Games, which open on Friday.

Special coverage: Doha Asian Games Related readings: S. Korean baseball team targets champion Iraq tops group with win over SingaporePreviews to the 2006 Asian Games Doha China appears set to extend dominationWomen basketball: China beat Australia in Asian Games warm-up China stun Australia in Games warm-up Doha Sport City Tower China sends rookies to Doha Can Yao-less China prevail at Doha?

"We hope to win medals in as many disciplines as possible, especially in shooting and athletics where we did well in the Commonwealth Games," said Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi.

India won seven of their 11 gold medals in track and field in Pusan, South Korea, in 2002 when they finished seventh in the medals table.

"I guarantee good performances, much better than the last Games," Athletics Federation of India (AFI) secretary Lalit Bhanot said. "I'm not predicting medals simply because one can't say how well other countries have prepared."

India are expected to retain the kabaddi title, which they have won since its inception in 1990, and expect medals from hockey, tennis, chess, billiards and snooker, archery and boxing.

In hockey, the eight-times Olympic champions have substantially revamped their squad, axing six players from the side which slumped to 11th in the World Cup in September.

Experienced midfielder Viren Rasquinha was among those who failed to find a place in the 16-member squad.

1

2