If Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore's was India's lone success story at the Athens Olympics, there were other athletes who also came under the spotlight at the mega event, but for the wrong reasons.
Woman lifter and Sydney Games bronze medallist Karnam Malleswari could not complete her first attempt, shot putter Bahadur Singh fouled all his three tries, discus thrower Anil Kumar did not come up with a single legitimate hurl and Manjit Kaur failed to start in the women's 4x400m relay final.
What took everyone by surprise that these athletes, most of whom are national record holders in their respective events, had come to Athens for a piece of Olympic glory but all bowed out -- in dramatic fashion.
Malleswari, coming here with an Olympic medal under her belt, promised a lot but delivered too little in her 63kg category, failing to complete even her first lift.
Malleswari, who came to Athens "completely fit," later gave a baffling explanation for her pull-out.
"I have been detected with a serious spinal chord problem. There is a fracture in my lumbar vertebrae," she said.
{{/usCountry}}"I have been detected with a serious spinal chord problem. There is a fracture in my lumbar vertebrae," she said.
{{/usCountry}}Bahadur Singh's story was equally mysterious since the shot putter, who came to the Games with years of training and hard work, failed to register even a single legitimate throw.