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.Fake Lakers Jerseys . Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break. Los Angeles Lakers Store . 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Los Angeles Lakers Pro Shop . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble.Adam Reynolds has rubbished speculation he is set to follow halves partner Luke Keary out the door at South Sydney.While contracted at Redfern until the end of next NRL season, the No.7 has been linked to Parramatta after their failure to snare Jarryd Hayne.He was rumoured to be restless at Redfern and earlier in the year it was reported he had asked the Rabbitohs for a release to the Gold Coast.The Rabbitohs could be reticent to let the NSW playmaker go, especially with five-eighth Keary shifting to local rivals Sydney Roosters next season.Reynolds described reports he could seek an early release as a figment of the media imagination and said he wanted to remain long-term.Its a good club, he said. Ive grown up in the area and lived here all my life.Im still contracted next year and I havent spoken to aanyone.dddddddddddd Theyre all rumours at the moment.NSW coach Laurie Daley, who handed Reynolds his State of Origin debut this year, on Wednesday said that if he was in charge of rebuilding Parramatta, he would chase the 26-year-old.Reynolds described himself as a guaranteed starter for Sundays clash with Newcastle despite being forced to sit on the sidelines for the second half of Mondays shock win over Cronulla because of concussion.As soon as I got up I felt sweet, I felt fine, he said.I went off the field but thought Id be alright to go back on.The doctor looked at the tape and said it wouldnt be a good idea. Thats the medical advice and you have to back their decision. ' ' '