Anilava Chatterjee, Tokyo: India recorded its best ever performances at the Olympics stage in Tokyo 2020. India’s haul of seven medals at the Tokyo Games is it’s best-ever in Olympic history, beating the tally of six at London 2012. The country won one gold, two silver and four bronze medals in Tokyo in an impressive showing. Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra created history by clinching India’s maiden gold medal in athletics at the Olympics. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and wrestler Ravi Dahiya won silver for the country. Ace shuttler PV Sindhu, boxer Lovlina Borgohain, wrestler Bajrang Punia and the men’s hockey team won bronze.
Reacting to the overall performance of the Indian athletes at Tokyo Olympics, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Narinder Batra said, “I think it is a perfect build up for Paris and future. There was a huge change in the mindset of our athletes. Yes, there is still scope of improvement. We will discuss in details when we return back to India. There will be even better performances from our athletes in the future. Tokyo Olympics has set us a bar.”
On being asked about the targets set for Paris 2024 which is just three years away, Mr Batra said, “The core group of the squad will be from the athletes at Tokyo 2020. In addition we will pick athletes from academies across various disciplines. We have TOPS, NSS has their own program. I think you will get to see even a better show at Paris.”
According to Batra, “The groundwork for Tokyo Olympics started five years before, immediately after the Rio Olympics. And the results at Tokyo are just a culmination of the hard work our athletes put in over the last five years.”
Batra, who is also the President of Hockey India, said that the performances of the hockey teams – both men and women will only get better. The men’s team led by Manpreet Singh won bronze after 41 years while Rani Rampal led women’s hockey team missed the silver by a whisker. The men’s team achieved best ever FIH World Rankings as they rose to 3rd place.
There have been some heartbreaking moments with golfer Aditi Ashok coming tantalizingly close to winning a bronze. Shot putter Kamalpreet Kaur impressed in her maiden Olympics. The men’s 4*400m relay team set Asian record.
The IOA President has an important message to all.
According to Batra, “All I can say is don’t give up. Whosoever is the best does well on that day. You have done well to reach this stage. Giving up is never the solution. Train hard and give your best next time. Since they have come so close only suggests they are among the top. Don’t aim for third, always aim for gold.”