Tag: Tokyo Olympics

In seventh heaven: India sign off Tokyo Olympics with promise of brighter future

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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It started with a bang, tapered off in the middle and then ended with the kind of spectacular fireworks that make historic events grand. India was quite literally on a roller-coaster during the Tokyo Olympics. So, there was the first medal in track-and-field which also happened to be the first gold in 13 years, the first medal in hockey in 41 years, the first silver in weightlifting, the first boxing medal in nine years, the first woman with two Olympic medals, the most number of debutants ending up on the podium, and the most number of medals ever won, it all happened in one single Games for India.

And it all happened at the Games which carried the tag of troubled long before the opening ceremony, thanks to the unrelenting COVID-19 pandemic. It all happened after one year of shutdown that sent most training and competition schedules haywire. Mighty impressive? No, it was way more than that.

India’s campaign at the Olympic Games was as much a story of human resilience as of sporting excellence and it came to the fore on the opening day of competitions itself starting with Mirabai Chanu. The Manipuri weightlifter stands a mere 4’11” but lifted 202kg (87+115) to fetch a silver and put India on the medals tally, showing the world why size doesn’t and shouldn’t matter. In her moment of glory, the phenomenal weightlifter was a personification of perseverance. She had left the same stage in tears and dejection five years ago, failing to log a single legal lift. And there she was smiling ear to ear on July 24 becoming India’s first silver-medallist in weightlifting. It was just the kind of start that the country needed but what followed was a lull.

Also Read: Neeraj Chopra’s journey from being body shamed to winning India’s 1st Olympic gold in athletics

Some top contenders bowed out without making an impact, the biggest disappointment being the 15-strong shooting contingent. A lot many questions about their preparations came up after only one, Saurabh Chaudhary, managed to make the finals and none could get on the podium.

Nobody had a clear answer as to what went wrong even as stories of factionalism, ego battles and petty differences began to crop up from different corners. It seemed that the Indian campaign had hit the disaster note early and would not be able to recover.

But along came P V Sindhu and put things back on track with her bronze. The seasoned Hyderabadi shuttler was looking to better the silver she won in the 2016 Games. She couldn’t do that but managed to become the first Indian woman with two Olympic medals.

While she was at it, the two hockey teams also showed stomach for fight after early setbacks. And in the boxing ring, an heir apparent to the iconic M C Mary Kom began to take shape in Lovlina Borgohain (69kg).

The 23-year-old from Assam ended with a bronze on August 4 as women got down to the task of rebuilding momentum in the Indian camp. And it worked out quite spectacularly. The very next day, Ravi Kumar Dahiya became only the second Indian wrestler to clinch a silver at the Games but the first to do so on debut.

Hours before that came the long-awaited hockey medal, a bronze worth it’s weight and wait in gold. Manpreet Singh and his inspired teammates scripted a comeback to remember against Germany in the play-off to sow the seeds of hockey’s resurgence in the country for a generation that grew up hearing tales of greatness while watching a painful slump in the sport.

There were tears, joy, nostalgia and above all a sense of renewed pride because hockey was India’s sport before it declined and cricket took over the mind space. The stage seemed set for a grand finale and it was with Neeraj Chopra’s javelin striking gold, India’s first in 13 years overall and the first in athletics.

Bajrang Punia’s resolve paid off for him with a bronze on the wrestling mat as the debutant grudgingly accepted the medal after falling out of the expected gold medal contention. Then there were those who were hit by the curse of the fourth-place finish. Their agony was a story in itself as golfer Aditi Ashok and the women’s hockey team ended within touching distance of the podium but not quite there. So, India’s performance at the Games was bigger than the unprecedented seven medals.

It reflected confidence, best personified by Chopra when he owned the Olympic stadium with his self-assured gait during the final in which the 90m man — the great Johannes Vetter — wilted. In Tokyo, the Indians who did well were not surprising anyone, they were living up to the billing earned over the last three years.

Surprise was some of them falling short like the shooters, and the archers. And in that lay the country’s story of progress in sports. India is not quite there yet but is certainly inching closer one step at a time.

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Tokyo Olympics: 10 Indian officials for closing ceremony, no limit on athletes

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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There will be no limit on the number of Indian athletes attending the Tokyo Olympics closing ceremony on Sunday but count of the officials has been capped at 10.

In contrast to the ethnic outfit that athletes wore during the opening ceremony, they will be seen in comfortable track suits.

A majority of the hockey and wrestling contingent is expected to attend the ceremony that begins 4.30 PM IST.

Wrestler Bajrang Punia, who claimed a bronze on Saturday, will be India’s flag bearer as announced earlier.

As per protocols followed by Indian Olympic Association, the medal winners including gold medallist Neeraj Chopra will be duly made flag bearers in the future multi sporting events including Asian Games and Commonwealth Games next year.

Men’s hockey skipper Manpreet Singh and champion boxer M C Mary Kom were India’s flagbearers at the opening ceremony.

Considering the COVID-19 threat, the Indian delegates in Tokyo had limited the count of officials at the opening ceremony to six, while a significant number of athletes stayed away from the event to focus on their competition the following day.

India capped off its best-ever performance in the Olympics with a haul of seven medals, including a gold, at Tokyo.

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Neeraj Chopra wins historic Gold for India in Tokyo Olympics, becomes first Indian athlete to do so

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal in javelin throw with a throw of 87.58 metre at the Tokyo Games 2020 on August 7. He is the second Indian in Olympic history to win an individual gold medal.

Chopra has become the first Indian to win Olympic gold in athletics.

India’s only previous medals in Olympic track and field were two silvers won by Norman Pritchard in the 200 metre and the 200-metre hurdles at the 1900 Paris Games.

Chopra was the first athlete from India to win gold in javelin at the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games, both in 2018.

He set a new benchmark in Tokyo, holding off two athletes from the Czech Republic to finish atop the podium. Jakub Vadlejch took silver with a best mark of 86.67 meters and former world champion Vitezslav Vesely won bronze with 85.44.

#TeamIndia | #Tokyo2020 | #Athletics
Men’s Javelin Throw Final Results

It’s a GOLD at the #OlympicStadium#NeerajChopra is an #OlympicChampion! Goes down in history as #TeamIndia ‘s 1st #Olympics Gold medallist in Athletics and 2nd individual. Take a bow champ @Neeraj_chopra1 pic.twitter.com/CWLdw3Df4g

— Team India (@WeAreTeamIndia) August 7, 2021

As soon as the event began, family and neighbours of the javelin thrower Chopra were seen glued to the TV screen in Haryana’s Panipat as they watched him perform at the Tokyo Games.

Chopra had qualified for the final of the javelin throw event at the Olympic Games on August 4 with a stunning first attempt of 86.65m.

All eyes were on Chopra in the final as he is on a roll this season and is the owner of the national record — 88.07m — which he achieved at the Indian Grand Prix in March.

ICONIC. #IND pic.twitter.com/2kbYByNGOn

— Olympics (@Olympics) August 7, 2021

Competing in his first Olympics, the 23-year-old took just a few seconds to make it to the final round as he sent the spear well past the qualifying mark of 83.50m during the group A qualifications.

In javelin throw, an athlete can make the final by either attaining the qualifying standard or by finishing among the top-12 competitors in the event.

Following the conclusion of the qualification round, where 12 throwers qualified — seven from Group A and five from Group B — Chopra’s performance stood out, as, despite missing almost the entire 2020 due to injuries, he came back strongly to be in contention for a medal in the finals.

A farmer’s son from Khandra village near Panipat in Haryana who took up athletics to shed flab on his body left the javelin arena after his first throw, having secured his place in the final easily.

(With agency inputs)

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Tokyo Olympics: Wrestler Bajrang Punia bags bronze in men’s freestyle 65 kg category

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia bagged the bronze medal in the men’s freestyle 65 Kg category at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 on August 7. He defeated Kazakhstan’s Daulet Niyazbekov 8-0 in the bronze medal match.

Punia came up with a tactical bout as he took an early lead in the first period and capitalised with counterattacks when his Kazakh rival, a two-time medallist at the World Championships, went on the attack.

Bajrang Bajrang of #IND takes #bronze in the #Wrestling men’s freestyle 65kg category.#StrongerTogether | #Tokyo2020 | @wrestling pic.twitter.com/lNIhsSJAYK

— Olympics (@Olympics) August 7, 2021

The wrestler’s bronze medal took India’s tally in the Tokyo Olympics to six medals — two silver and four bronze. India thus tied for its best medal haul in the Olympics at 2012 London when they won two silver and four bronze.

Soon after his win, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to congratulate Punia.”Delightful news from #Tokyo2020! Spectacularly fought @BajrangPunia. Congratulations to you for your accomplishment, which makes every Indian proud and happy,” Modi wrote on the microblogging site.

President Ram Nath Kovind also extended greetings to the wrestler. “A special moment for Indian wrestling! Congratulations to Bajrang Punia for winning the Bronze at #Tokyo2020. You have distinguished yourself as an outstanding wrestler with untiring efforts, consistency and tenacity over the years. Every Indian shares the joy of your success!” he tweeted.

Meanwhile, Haryana’s Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced that the state government will give Rs 2.5 crores, a government job, and a plot of land at 50 percent concession to wrestler Bajrang Punia for winning the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. “An indoor stadium will be constructed in his native village Khudan in Jhajjar,” he added. 

Punia had lost the semifinals in the men’s freestyle 65kg last-four bout to three-time world champion Haji Aliev on August 6. Bajrang’s family, friends, and well-wishers, who had turned up in numbers in Haryana’s Sonipat to catch the action on TV, had exuded optimism that he would win a bronze medal at the Games.

Speaking to the media, the wrestler’s father Balwan Singh said, “Bajrang told us that he will give his best to bring an Olympic medal.”

(With agency inputs)

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As pandemic Olympics wane, Japan asks: What did games mean?

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Tokyo: Was it the strangest Olympics ever, staged during a deadly global pandemic, with no fans? How about the angriest, awash in protests and fierce opposition from large swaths of the host nation?

The scariest, with fears of new coronavirus variants and surging cases plaguing Japan though mostly dodging those in the Olympic bubble throughout the two weeks of sports? Or maybe, as athletes banded together under moments of intense stress, the kindest?

As tens of thousands of athletes, journalists and officials get ready to pack up and leave Monday, Japan will be left to pick over the answers to these questions, maybe for years. Amid the lingering glow from the televised pomp and the indisputable athletic drama, whatever you call these Olympics, its worth stopping to consider how Japan sees them.

They were sold, well before the pandemic, as the symbol of Japans recovery from the destruction of the 2011 tsunami and nuclear meltdown. The rhetoric now tends to focus on their link to the world overcoming coronavirus.

But does that really work in a country where thousands are still getting sick each day, let alone in other, even worse-hit nations that have sent athletes to Tokyo? Many here, while proud that Japan is on the verge of pulling off what many thought impossible or, in some corners, highly inadvisable, still believe these Games were forced on the country and that their real cost, possibly in lives lost, is yet to be paid.

Others are simply relieved they are over. And a large number maybe even enjoyed the ride, reveling in the sports themselves, Japan’s surprisingly strong medal haul and the generally hospitable way the world was welcomed during a period of illness, fear and uncertainty.

Using some of the dozens of interviews conducted during and before these delayed and disputed Pandemic Games, The Associated Press takes a look at what some Japanese think they mean.

Is it representative of a nation of 126 million? Of course not. But the glimpses into the views of some of the people who lived through this Olympics offer a chance to cut through, in sometimes surprising ways, the government and IOC rhetoric that emphasized harmony and revitalization, and get a bit closer to the heart of the nation’s sentiment.

The beginning

It started with a muted opening ceremony and an empty stadium, with moments so quiet that the shouts of protesters could be heard from the streets outside. Many residents watched with mixed feelings, to say the least, isolated from the Games by organizers trying to keep the Olympic visitors from mingling with the public, forced to modify their lives during a record wave of virus cases and yet another state of emergency.

Many were opposed, and that feeling persisted. But there was nuance, too a desire to put the country’s best face forward, now that the inevitable was happening, and a notion that this spectacle could act as a salve.

I am very emotional and teary-eyed while watching the TV because even during the pandemic, the Olympics will still go on,” Riza Nagumo, 53, a housewife, said. “I was praying so much to have this Olympics be a very successful event, to heal the world.

At a normally bustling intersection in Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood, large screens that usually blast advertisements and show television were switched off. Many bars and restaurants were closed, and public viewing locations across Japan were shut down amid rising infections.

Everyone is just enduring this, said Harumi Wada, a Tokyo resident. But to hold the Olympics, despite everything, I feel theres a dissonance, and I think that distrust toward the government is getting stronger.

The family

Despite the disruption, delays and disputes of these Games, the ban on spectators and big gatherings proved a surprising boon for some families.

While it’s true that some bars and restaurants continued to see drinkers flouting pandemic restriction rules, even as late as Friday night, many Japanese stayed home with their relatives and were delighted with the excuse to do so.

We are often too busy in our daily life to have this kind of quality family time, said Ikuko Tozuka, 53, who gathered with her husband and two adult daughters in front of their TV screen in Oiso, west of Tokyo, to watch the Games. So I am very happy that this Olympics has given us an opportunity to be together.

Hiroshi, the father, 58, even bought a new TV set to watch the Games with his family.

It was actually good that this COVID-19 pandemic compelled us as a family to come together and watch the Games in this way, said Yu, his 26-year-old daughter.

The protesters

Throughout the Games, small knots of protesters gathered to provide voice to what a much larger, mostly silent chunk of Japan was thinking. They chanted, Cancel the Olympics. They carried banners reading, No Olympics 2020 Use that money for COVID-19 and Is it more important than human life?

Were these very public demonstrations representative of the whole country? It’s complicated. Many said in polls they strongly opposed the Games; an unknown number may have been silently taking a wait-and-see attitude, hoping for the best.

In AP interviews conducted over the months between the postponement and the start of the Games, there could be found a feeling of resentment that the government had pushed ahead partly because of pressure from the IOC, which would have faced billions in lost television rights income without the Games. There was also fear over the Olympics spreading new strains of the coronavirus. The governments main medical adviser said it was abnormal to hold the Olympics during a pandemic.

Its unethical to proceed with such a big event, with more than 10,000 athletes coming to Tokyo, all situated in one area, said Masa Yamagata, a Tokyo resident. We cant enjoy it anyway. We cant celebrate it.

Past as present

Along with the anger and fear, these Games had a nostalgic element for some older Japanese who remembered the Summer Games of 1964, when Japan celebrated its rebuilding from the war and the turbulent years that followed.

Some felt remorse a sense of what might have been because these Games would be so much more circumscribed than the last time they were in Tokyo.

There was also gratitude. Thanks to these Games, Seiichi Kuroki, 55, saw his relationship with his 85-year-old father, Masatoshi Kuroki, deepen as they talked about Masatoshi’s role as a marshal at the opening ceremony of the 1964 Olympics.

“I am very grateful for that, Kuroki said. He looks happy when I ask him questions such as, What were you doing then at the Games? Because that is his legacy.

There was a tinge of sorrow, however, for Takemasa Taguchi, as the 83-year-old remembered Tokyos celebratory mood in 1964.

I am so sad about this situation, Taguchi said. I was hoping that we could have celebrated and danced together with people from all over the world.

Social change

Some hoped the Games would bring change to Japanese society, where minorities still suffer from discrimination and prejudice. Few felt that the Games would solve all of Japan’s social issues: Can an Olympics event ever live up to the expectations that are heaped on it? But with the world’s attention focused on Japan, some saw movement forward on the issues they cared about.

Ahead of the Games, Makoto Kikuchi, a 34-year-old professional boxer, decided to come out as a lesbian.

By speaking openly and becoming one of the out athletes, I hoped to be as helpful as possible for those who feel lonely, Kikuchi said.

The Tokyo Games included 179 openly gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and nonbinary athletes, according to Outsport.com. That’s more than three times the number from the 2016 Games in Rio.

While same-sex marriages are not legally recognized here, Fumino Sugiyama, a transgender activist and former fencer on Japan’s womens national team, said support of sexual diversity has slowly grown.

It is truly great that a path has finally been created for athletes to be able to compete while being their authentic selves in sports, said the 39-year-old, who was nominated to the Japanese Olympic Committees board of directors before the Games.

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Tokyo Olympics | India’s Aditi Ashok misses medal, finishes 4th in Golf

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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India’s 23-year-old golfer, Aditi Ashok finished fourth in the final round of women’s Golf on Saturday despite being a strong contender for a medal. After a brilliant performance, she narrowly missed a medal after carding 3-under 68 in the final round. This could have been a historic win for India.

In the final round, she fired five birdies — on the 5th, 6th, 8th, 13th and 14th holes — against two bogeys on the 9th and 11th.

Nelly Korda of the United States won the gold medal with a tense one-stroke victory to complete a sweep and secure another glittering prize for a royal family of sport.

The final round of the women’s golf tournament resumed Saturday after a passing thunderstorm. The Game started with American Golfer Nelly Korda (world’s number one) leading on 17-under par.

She was one step ahead of Mone Inami of Japan. India’s Aditi Ashok and Lydia Ko of New Zealand tied for third a stroke further back.

Ko and Inami will continue their playoff for silver and bronze medals at Kasumigaseki Country Club.

Overnight leader by three strokes, Korda gave up a share of the lead to Japan’s fast-finishing Inami on the 17th. But the home favourite bogeyed 18, giving the American a precious one-stroke buffer as she shot towards the final green.

While it was heartbreaking to see Aditi’s end of the campaign, but her performance was a major improvement considering she finished at 41st in the 2016 edition when golf made a comeback to the Olympics.

With inputs from agencies

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Tokyo Olympics: Bajrang Punia loses semifinals in men’s 65kg freestyle wrestling; will fight for Bronze

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Wrestler Bajrang Punia lost semifinals in the men’s freestyle 65kg event to Azerbaijan’s Haji Aliev at Tokyo Olympics. He will be fighting for the bronze medal against Russian Olympic Committe’s Gadzhimurad Rashidov in his Olympic debut.

Aliev is a three-time world champion and the bronze winner from the Rio Games.

In the quarterfinals, Punia put his tactical acumen and strength to good use in the second period to pin Iran’s Morteza Cheka Ghiasi for a semifinal berth. Bajrang trailed the Iranian for a major part of the bout after being severely crippled by Ghiasi’s defensive tactics, especially the body locks.

Before this bout, a timely take-down move helped him beat Kyrgyzstan’s Ernazar Akmataliev in his opening bout. Just before the end of the first period put the Indian ahead 3-1 but Akmataliev ran Bajrang close in the second period, getting two push-out points to level the scores.

Since Bajrang had the high-scoring move, a two-pointer take-down, he was declared the winner on criteria. It was not the cleanest and fluent victories that he is known for but was just enough for Bajrang, who came into the Games after suffering a minor knee injury during a local Russian tournament.

With inputs from PTI

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Golfer Aditi Ashok remains strong at Olympics; holds 2nd spot after Round 3

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Indian golfer Aditi Ashok carded a three-under 67 in the third round to hold on to the second position and remain in strong contention for the country’s maiden Olympic medal in the sport here on Friday. Aditi was 12-under 201 after three rounds and is the sole golfer in the second position, three strokes adrift of leader Nelly Korda of USA who carded a two-under 69 in the penultimate round.

Four players — New Zealand’s Lydia Ko (66), Australia’s Hannah Green (67), Demark’s Kristine Pederson (70) and Japan’s Mone Inami (68) — shared the third spot with totals of 10-under 203. Aditi fired five birdies and two bogeys on the day. She was three-under after picking up shots on the fourth, sixth and seventh holes before bogeys on ninth and 11th pulled her back.

However, she made amends with birdies on the 15th and 17th to keep herself in the hunt for a historic medal. The other Indian golfer in the fray, Diksha Dagar, remained in the lower half of the leaderboard after an erratic one-over 72, her third successive over-par card of the week.

Dagar, who started from the back-nine, managed one birdie against two bogeys in her round on Friday. This is Aditi’s second Olympic appearance. She had finished tied 41st in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro edition.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow