Wrestler Amit hopes surprise factor favours him in London

He might lack the experience of competing at the highest level, but Amit Kumar, the youngest member of the Indian wrestling contingent, believes that this can work in his favour at the London Olympics.

"It has not been long since I have started to contest in the senior category. I am totally new to many of my opponents. They don't have much of an advantage when it comes to strategising against me, as there are not enough videos of my bouts available. This one aspect can work in my favour in London," Amit said.

The 55kg free-style grappler, who surprised one and all with his gold medal performance in the Asian Qualifying Tournament in Astana, Kazakhstan in March this year, is aware that one moment of glory at the London Games will take him miles ahead.

"I never expected that I will be competing in the Olympics so early, I had set my eyes on the 2016 Games. But since I have made it to the Olympics, I don't want to let go this chance easily.

"An Olympic medal can change one's life and I know what it would mean to finish on the podium in London," said the 19-year-old lad from Haryana, who along with Sushil Kumar, Yogeshwar Dutt, Narsingh Pancham Yadav and Geeta Phogat, is going through the rigours at a training camp in Colorado Springs, USA.

Amit conceded that lack of experience at the senior level can be a factor, but insisted that it is in no way going to be a handicap for him.

"Experience can be a factor, but I am trying to improve on every aspect of my game. The coaches have been very supportive and with still some time left for the Olympics I am working hard to iron out any lacuna in my game," Amit said.

"I am also keeping an eye on what my opponents are doing and I am confident that I will put up a decent performance at London," he pointed out.

Amit, who also has the Asian Championships bronze medal to his credit, added that there is minimum pressure on him, which again will help him to go into the contest with a free mind.

"Since I am participating in the Olympics for the first time, people don't have much expectations from me, there is minimum pressure, so I want to utilise this opportunity to the best of my potential," he said.

Meanwhile, Narsingh (74kg), who also will be contesting in his debut Olympics, said that he was ready and raring to go at the marquee event.

"I have been in good form over some time now and my body is also in good shape. There are no injury concerns either, so I don't see any reason why I can't do good at the Olympics," Narsingh said.

The 23-year-old grappler, who beat Olegk Motsalin of Greece to win gold in the last phase of the World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Helsinki, Finland in May, though, conceded that there is pressure on him ahead of the Games.

"I won't say there is no pressure, but it depends on who handles the pressure on that particular day in an effective way," said the 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist.