India ki “Shaan”; Tokyo Olympics 2020 Full List of Winners
The Tokyo Olympics started with a bang for India with weightlifter Mirabai Chanu becoming the second individual silver medallist at the Games from the country. It then went through a lull as the shooters and archers failed to live up to expectations before a wave of positivity came back with the performances of the men’s and women’s hockey teams and PV Sindhu’s bronze medal victory, all of which came to a crescendo with Neeraj Chopra winning a historic javelin throw gold.
India ended up surpassing their previous best tally at an Olympics of six medals, which the contingent achieved at the 2012 London Olympics, with Neeraj’s gold being their seventh medal. It came in the last event of the Tokyo Games that featured an Indian.
Here’s the full list of all the medal winners:
1. Mirabai Chanu kicks it off with a silver (Weightlifting)
India ki “shaan”; Tokyo Olympics 2020 Full List of Winners
Some of India’s biggest medal hopes were in action on the first day of the Olympics itself in the form of Mirabai, competing in the women’s 49kg weightlifting category, pistol shooters Saurabh Chaudhary and Abhishek Verma and rifle shooters Elavenil Valarivan and Apurvi Chandella.
However, Mirabai Chanu, who was India’s sole entry in weightlifting, ended up becoming India’s first Olympic medallist in the sport since 2000. The diminutive Manipuri lifted a total of 202kg (87kg+115kg) to better Malleswari’s performance more than two decades ago. With this effort, Mirabai also exorcised the ghosts of the 2016 Games where she had failed to log a single legitimate lift, leaving her shattered.
Finally it has happened, I got the silver medal… 5 years of hard work has bore fruit.
“I am very happy, and don’t have words. Just want to say thank you to all my supporters – coach, family, weightlifting federation of India,” Mirabai told in an interview after winning the medal.
“Was very sad after failing in the Rio Olympics. Then I won the gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, after that I thought of keeping an Olympic ring with me. That is when I dreamt of winning an Olympic medal and that’s when I made this earring and kept it with me. This silver medal is the result of all the sacrifices I have made in my life,” Mirabai said.
2. P V Sindhu exceeds expectations (Badminton)- Bronze
India ki “shaan”; Tokyo Olympics 2020 Full List of Winners
India’s badminton star P V Sindhu carried on from where she left at the last Olympics and brought back another medal for the country in the women’s singles event. After winning silver in Rio 2016, Sindhu picked up a bronze this time when she overcame China’s He Bing Jiao 21-13, 21-15 in the bronze medal match.
P V Sindhu was progressing serenely through the women’s singles badminton field, chasing her second Olympic medal. She had not dropped a game until she reached the semi-final, where she ended up losing to Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan. However, Sindhu kept her eye on the prize and beat Jiao in the bronze medal match, thus becoming the first Indian since Sushil Kumar at London 2012 to win two individual Olympic medals.
PV Sindhu clung on to her advantage, though, soaking up all the extra shots He Bing Jiao was making her play. The Indian came out of another draining rally to set up match point, unleashing a crosscourt to the vacant backhand section.
Leaving He Bing Jiao rooted for one last time, PV Sindhu sealed the bronze, stepping forward decisively and sending the shuttle close to the forehand line.
3. Lovlina Borgohain- the symbol of youth power (Boxing)- Bronze
Bronze for #IND!
Lovlina Borgohain earns a bronze medal in the women’s #Boxing welterweight category!@WeAreTeamIndia pic.twitter.com/lmIj0mvxuj
— Olympics (@Olympics) August 4, 2021
Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain picked up the country’s third ever Olympic medal in boxing when she secured a bronze in the women’s welterweight (64-69kg) category, following on the footsteps of Vijender Singh and MC Mary Kom’s bronze medals in 2008 and 2012, respectively. She displayed immense grit in her semi-final bout against eventual champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey but lost via unanimous decision. Hong Gu of China secured silver after losing the final to the Turk.
Borgohain beat Taiwan’s Nien-Chin Chen in the quarter-final to progress to the medal rounds. Lovlina could not progress beyond the semi-finals, however, losing to world number one Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey.
Her opponent, Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey is the top seed in the weight category. The 23-year-old won the World Championships in 2019, an event where Borgohain clinched the bronze. The Turkish pugilist bagged a bronze in the 2019 European Championship and comes into the clash after defeating Ukraine’s Anna Lysenko 5-0.
No Indian female athlete has won the gold medal at the Olympics, and Lovlina Borgohain will be aiming to rewrite history when she steps into the ring. Lovlina, who looks up to Mary Kom as an inspiration, will have eyes on the final and look to breach her Turkish opponent’s defence.
4. Men’s hockey team pay homage to our national sport- Bronze
India ki “shaan”; Tokyo Olympics 2020 Full List of Winners
The Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams recovered from their shaky starts in the tournament to progress to the knockouts. The men also reached the semis, where they lost to eventual gold medallists Belgium. They then played a thrilling bronze medal match against Germany and won 5-4, securing a first Olympic medal for Indian hockey in 41 years.
Hockey India administers the Indian hockey team, which competes in international field hockey tournaments. Previously, the Indian Hockey Federation was in charge of the squad. The International Hockey Federation accepted India as the first non-European team. The Indian men’s team won their first Olympic gold medal in 1928, and they stayed unbeaten in the Olympics until 1960, earning six gold medals in a row. From their first game until losing in the 1960 gold medal final, the squad enjoyed a 30–0 winning streak.
5. Ravi Dahiya shines like his silver medal (Wrestling)
India ki “shaan”; Tokyo Olympics 2020 Full List of Winners
Indian wrestler Ravi Dahiya took the second spot in the men’s freestyle 57kg category after a close final bout. Dahiya showcased great determination as he pushed two-time world champion Uguev to his limits. However, Uguev used his experience to get over the line, leaving Dahiya to be content with the silver medal.
For the fourth straight edition of the Olympics the Indian wrestler is representing Indians on the podium. This is India’s 2nd silver in wrestling.
The 23-year-old wrestler Ravi Dahiya belongs to a humble family from Nahri village in Haryana. Ravi Dahiya’s father Rakesh Dahiya, a farmer, who worked in rented paddy fields. Ravi’s father is also an equal participant in his Olympic glory. He made a lot of sacrifices and ensured Dahiya never felt any shortage of resources and support. Dahiya traveled every day for over 10 years to deliver milk and fruits to his son.
6. Bajrang Punia fights till the end to secure a bronze (Wrestling)
India ki “shaan”; Tokyo Olympics 2020 Full List of Winners
Bajrang Punia won India’s second wrestling medal as he defeated Kazakhstan’s Daulet Niyazbekov 8-0 in men’s 65kg freestyle. After losing to Azerbaijan’s Haji Aliyev in the semi-finals, Bajrang dominated his opponent to ease to victory.
“Many players were featuring in the Olympics for the first time. We won seven medals, we had planned for more but managed to better previous Olympics’ results. ” Punia said in an interview.
We will try to do even better in Paris and push for 20-25 medals in the next Olympics
7. Neeraj Chopra brings tears in a most unexpected win (Javelin Throw)- Gold
India ki “shaan”; Tokyo Olympics 2020 Full List of Winners
India’s first ever Olympic gold in athletics came in Tokyo when Neeraj Chopra put on a stellar display. Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch and Vitezslav Vesely won silver and bronze, respectively. This was also India’s first gold medal since Abhinav Bindra in Beijing 2008 and second ever individual gold.
Neeraj Chopra had already made history in the qualification round of men’s javelin throw by topping his qualification group. With Germany’s Johannes Vetter struggling to reach the 85m mark, Neeraj took the lead with his first throw of 87.03m. However, he bettered his performance in the following round with an 87.58m.
“At the time there wasn’t much on my mind. Just thinking that I have worked so hard for this moment. I am going for the throw, and the entire focus is only on that,” Neeraj later told.
Final thoughts
Each of them is hoping that their medals will come to mean more than just a sporting victory. They wish it will bring change and renew a once-great culture of hockey. Strengthen the fledgling interest in boxing, or build a new platform for athletics.
“For both teams to do well will go a long way to revive the sport in the country”. “The young hockey players will believe that they can come to the Olympics and win medals.”
I have a feeling that the coming years for Indian sport will be even better.
We too share in that feeling and are absolutely pumped for the future of Indian sports. We must also take a moment to appreciate all of those who won our hearts even if they didn’t win the medals.
Waking up early, checking up on #golf rules, following her game with every shot… #IND followed this sport like never before! ❤️
Aditi Ashok, you’re a champion! 🙌#Tokyo2020 | #UnitedByEmotion | #StrongerTogether | @aditigolf pic.twitter.com/E0wn5wYZOT
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) August 7, 2021
With pride,
Mahek Choudhary