We head into the sporting extravaganza called the Olympics in just a few hours. The opening ceremony is scheduled to start Friday at the iconic Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the Rio Olympics 2016 will then finally be declared open.
Of course, heart beats of sports fans are pulsating with every passing moment. Billions around the world will be tuning in to watch the mega sporting quadrennial event, being held for the first time in South America. More than 11,000 athletes from 28 sports will be plying their trade to hunt for the gold.
While Rio 2016 will give a massive reason for sports fans to cheer over the course of the next three weeks, glamour too, which has remained an integral part of sports since time immemorial, will be in action in the best way possible. Get over WAGs (Wives and Girlfriends), the women athletes featuring in Olympics 2016 will get the temperatures soaring and make the oomph factor reach a notch higher.
Having said that, nothing is being taken away from the hot male athletes too who will be in action -- from Michael Phelps (swimming) to Neymar (football) -- glamming up the event. However, for now, we would be sticking to female athletes who do have a tendency to make sports fans go gaga not only with their performances but also with their glam quotient.
We have made a list of top six female athletes in Rio Olympics 2016, with an equal weightage to our national athletes.
INDIAN ATHLETES
Sania Mirza (Tennis) - The tennis pin-up girl from India continues to up the glam quotient in every single WTA event or Grand Slam she is a part of. Not only a fiery personality on court, she is also someone who will make you drool when she is off-the-court and giving out that million dollar smile.
Age: 29
Height: 1.73m
Olympic appearances so far: 2
Yay or Nay: Nay! Married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik
Heena Sidhu (Shooting 10m and 25m air pistol) - She is not only an effective shooter using her pistol to perfection in all the right ways, the Ludhiana girl also manages to shoot into the hearts of many with her cute looks.
Age: 26
Height: 1.63m
Olympic appearances so far: 1
Yay or Nay: Nay! Married to Indian shooter Ronak Pandit
Jwala Gutta (Tennis) - The Indian women's tennis doubles sensation has continued to win hearts with her hot look. Born in Wardha, Maharashtra, Jwala's svelte figure and drop-dead looks have helped her bag Telugu films too.
Age: 32
Height: 1.78m
Olympic appearances so far: 2
Yay or Nay: Yay!
INTERNATIONAL ATHLETES
Jaqueline Carvalho (Brazil - Volleyball) - Possibly the hottest volleyball player in the planet right now, the lanky beauty's tanned looks and a girl-next-door face are sure to set hearts racing. She has won the gold with the Brazil women's volleyball team in the Beijing Olympics 2008 and the London Olympics 2012.
Age: 32
Height: 1.86m
Olympic appearances so far: 2
Yay or Nay: Nay! Married to Brazil men's volleyball team player Murilo Endres
Maria Verchenova (Russia - Golf) - Fortunately, the Russian golfer isn't a part of the athletes banned from participating in Rio 2016. Now that we have Maria on board, get ready not to miss the golfing action that making entry in the Olympics after 112 years. Reason to watch: Maria Verchenova. We can't explain more!
Age: 30
Height: 1.75m
Olympic appearances so far: None
Yay or Nay: Big Nay! Married to Russian businessman Valery Balikoev and they have a baby.
Eugenie Bouchard (Canada - Tennis) - When she stormed into the tennis scene for the first time as a teen, she was instantly labelled as the next hottest tennis star. Now that she has plied her trade over the decade, not only has she become better on-court but also someone who has the licence to kill with her out-of-the-world cute looks. A femme fatale in every sense of the word!
Age: 22
Height: 1.78m
Olympic appearances so far: None
Yay or Nay: Big Yay!