ISLAMABAD, March 28: Balgit Singh Sethi, the chef de mission of the Indian contingent on Sunday predicted a haul of at least 150 gold medals at the 9th SAF Games.

"We are hoping to pick up a major share of medals in athletics, swimming, squash and shooting," he told journalists after his arrival with a 200 plus batch at the Islamabad Airport.

The Indian soccer team was already in Islamabad and played their opening match against Bangladesh on Sunday. Another batch of athletes is expected to arrive here on Tuesday.

Balgit, who has returned after 57 years to Rawalpindi, his birth place, said that he was happy to be here. Marksman Jaspal Rana, is the star of the 378-strong Indian contingent, having won 100 medals in the international competitions. "I would want to win medals in all events," he said.

Joshana Chinappa, India's top woman squash player predicted an all-India final. "We have a bright chance of winning both the team and individual titles," she said. Joshana is top seed in the squash event and returns to the Roshan Khan Squash Complex where she was crowned the Asian Junior champion.

India had a haul of 102 golds at the 1999 Games at Kathmandu and are again likely to scoop up most of the medals. They have always had the highest medals tally since the event was first held in 1984.

Pakistan, however, have not been impressive in their gold hunt and had only 10 medals to show in 1999. But much is now expected from the home side who bagged 42 golds when Islamabad first staged the Games in 1989.