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Xtra Time Web Desk: The first batch of the Indian contingent left for Tokyo Olympics from New Delhi on Saturday. The squad was given a grand send off at the Indira Gandhi International airport led by Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur. The ceremony was also attended by the Minister of State for Sports, Nisith Pramanik, Sports Authority from the Managing Director of India Sandip Pradhan and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) officials, including President Narinder Batra and Secretary General Rajeev Mehta.

 The Tokyo bound athletes were given an unprecedented red carpet send off amid loud cheers, claps and plenty of good wishes. Athletes from the eight disciplines of archery, badminton, table tennis, hockey, judo, gymnastics, swimming and weightlifting boarded the flight to Tokyo. Notwithstanding the gloom surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the IGI witnessed unprecedented scenes and the hockey teams, arriving from Bengaluru, and the table tennis contingent led by Achanta Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra, were accorded a warm reception on entering the terminal, with the airport staff lining up on both sides as they walked through.

Such was the euphoria surrounding the send-off, that the Government of India arranged for a special Olympic Contingent Clearance immigration line for the Tokyo-bound members.

A contingent of 88 members, including 54 athletes in addition to support staff and IOA representatives, departed for the Japanese capital on Saturday night to participate in the COVID-hit Tokyo Games, which will begin in a week on July 23th.

Some of the Indian athletes have already arrived in Tokyo from their respective training bases abroad. The Indian shooting contingent checked into Games Village on Saturday. In addition, the rowing team has also arrived in Tokyo, while the boxing contingent has left its training base in Italy and is scheduled to arrive in the Japanese capital via Amsterdam on Sunday morning.