Incheon, South Korea: A lot will be at stake for India’s 516 athletes in the next 16 days as they get ready to make the country proud with a top-five finish in the 17th Asian Games, starting here on Friday.

India will compete in 28 events in Incheon with an eye on bettering their 2010 Asiad achievement, when they finished sixth after collecting 65 medals — 14 gold, 17 silver and 34 bronze.

But, given some high-profile late withdrawals — former wrestling world champion and two-time Olympic medal winner Sushil Kumar, 2008 Olympic bronze medallist boxer Vijender Singh, tennis stars Somdev Devvarman, double gold medallist in Guangzhou, established doubles players Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna and veteran badminton doubles specialist Jwala Gutta — the road for India will not be easy.

However, the country will bank on its shooters, wrestlers, pugilists and athletes to contribute the bulk of the medals. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has set a target of 70-75 medals from the Asian Games, but anything more than Guangzhou’s count of 65 medals would be considered an impressive show.

SAI recently stirred controversy by drastically pruning the Asian Games contingent initially proposed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The IOA, which returned to the international fold in February after serving a 14-month ban over a controversial election in December 2012, named a mammoth contingent of 942, comprising 662 athletes and 280 officials. But SAI later cut it down to 516 athletes and 163 support staff for a total of 679.

Leading the shooters’ charge will be 2008 Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra, who aims to finish his Asiad career on a high by earning a first-ever continental gold in the 10-metre air rifle.

The 18-member wrestling contingent will look to end a 28-year wait for an Asiad gold. The team, without Sushil Kumar, will seek inspiration from 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt, who will compete in the 65kg category.

Among the 56-member athletics contingent, discus thrower Vikash Gowda has a strong chance to bag gold, while Preeja Sreedharan (10,000 metres) and Sudha Singh (3,000-metre steeplechase) are confident of defending their titles.

India’s boxers won nine medals (two gold, three silver and four bronze) in 2010 but, considering the lack of international exposure due to the federation-related imbroglio, the number of medals from the 13-member team may come down.

The focus will be on Laisharam Devendro Singh (49kg), Shiva Thapa (56kg), Vikash Krishan Yadav (75kg) and 2012 Olympic bronze medallist women boxer M.C. Mary Kom (51kg).

In badminton, once again the onus of winning medals will fall upon the young shoulders of Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu, though the competition level will be quite high.

In men’s hockey, Sardar Singh & co should fancy their chances against arch-rivals Pakistan, South Korea and Malaysia.