Hosts India who have the largest contingent of the games with 619 athletes, including 379 men and 240 women, will be competing in all the 17 disciplines. With the government reportedly spending a massive amount of over 800 crore rupees in the preparation of the Indian athletes for the Games in the last two years or so, expectations are running high on India's medal prospects. As a sporting super power in the Commonwealth, Australia are assured of the number one spot in the medals table. The Aussies have topped the medal tally at the last five Commonwealth Games and they are ready to maintain the status quo. Despite the pull-outs, Australia are sending their largest ever team to an off-shore Games. The question now is, Can India obtain the number two position ahead of England and Canada? With a young group of athletes developing into world beaters, expectations are that India has the potential to finish as high as second in the present Games. Competing at home in familiar conditions weighs the scale a bit towards Indian athletes. The Indian shooting team, with five world record holders, two world champions and an Olympic Gold medallist in Abhinav Bindra, is expected to bag a rich haul of gold medals, despite tough competition. India had won 23 gold, 17 silver, 9 bronze medals in the Commonwealth shooting championship in February. They are again expected to dominate the discipline.Wrestling also promises a decent haul of gold medals. World Champion Sushil Kumar provides a strong case and with women's wrestling also on the agenda, the host aspires for a rich haul.In Boxing, led by Olympic bronze medal winner Vijender Singh, there is a promise of a handful of gold this time. In Tennis, also, wining half-a-dozen medals should not be difficult in a thin field with the elite Indian players in the competition. Same is the case with Indian archers.In Badminton, Saina Nehwal is the country's best hope for an individual gold while Jwala Gutta and V. Diju are front-runners in the mixed doubles. Gold medals are also expected from the weightlifters and table-tennis players, led by Sharath Kamal. Surely Indian hopes are high. As it is the time to bolster the nation's image, one hopes our athletes will do their best to bring enough golds to make everyone proud. The whole world is watching.