Yearender 2021: From Neeraj Chopra to Mirabai Chanu; top Olympic moments of India
Tokyo Olympics was initially seceduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020 but the COVID-19 pandemic compelled organisers to defer the games from 23 July to 8 August 2021.
However, the delay gave athletes further time to sharpen their skills and the Indian contingent proceeded competently in Tokyo. India bagged a record seven medals and finished 48th in the rankings table, with Neeraj Chopra's Gold being the high point of the Indian performance.
Check out India’s top moments in Tokyo Olympics:
Neeraj Chopra winning the Gold medal in the Javelin throw:
The 24-year-old went on to become the first athlete to win the gold medal in track and field for India. Hopes were pinned on the javelin thrower and Neeraj delivered on the big stage by winning the gold.
The athlete came up with a second-round throw of 87.58 m in the finals and ended India's 100-year wait for a track and field medal in the Olympics.
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu wins Silver in Weightlifting:
A girl from the North-East state of Manipur secured the silver medal for India in the Tokyo Olympics. Chanu opened the account for India in the very first day in the 49 kg category. Chanu lifted a total of 202 kg to come second behind China’s Hou Zhihui.
Ravi Kumar Dahiya’s Silver in Wrestling:
Ravi Dahiya grabed the silver medal in the 57kg category as India's medal tally continued to rise. The gold medal slipped away from the wrestler's grip but Dahiya made sure he brought home the silver.
The wrestler produced a sensational comeback from 9-2 deficit to beat Nurislam Sanayev. Dahiya came up with famous 'Victory by fall' move to astound his opponent.
India Men's Hockey team wins Bronze:
The men's hockey team made history by winning the bronze in the Tokyo Olympics. After an interval of 41 years, the men's team got the better of Germany 5-4 to secure the bronze medal at the games.
Simranjeet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh were the key players of the win.
P V Sindhu’s 2nd Olympic medal:
The star shuttler added another feather in her richly decorated crown by winning the bronze in the Olympic. The 26-year-old, who won a silver medal in Rio became the only Indian woman to hold two Olympic medals for the country.
In the match for the bronze, Sindhu went on to beat China’s He Bingjiao 21-13, 21-15.
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First published: 30 December 2021, 14:43 IST