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32nd Tokyo Olympic Games Notes
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The Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics
The Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, also known as the Games of the 32nd Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan from July 23 to Aug 8, 2021.
The 2020 Summer Olympics were originally planned to take place from July 24 to August 9 2020, however, the event was postponed to 2021 in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the first such event in Olympic history (previous games had been cancelled but not rescheduled).
Mascot and Motto
The official mascot of the 2020 Summer Olympics was Miraitowa. The name of the blue- checked Olympic mascot was derived from a combination of Japanese words 'future' and 'eternity' and seeks to 'promote a future full of eternal hope in the hearts of people all over the world'.
'Faster, Higher, Stronger' was the Olympic motto which was updated on July 20, 2021, to 'Faster, Higher, Stronger -Together'. This update was done to show solidarity around the globe at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The opening ceremony of the Olympics was formally opened by the Emperor of Japan, Naruhito on July 23, 2021, at Olympic Stadium, Tokyo.
The theme of the Olympic ceremonies was 'Moving Forward'. The ceremony's first performance showcased Japan's expertise in digital art and projection mapping technology.
For the first time, each team had the option to allow two flag bearers, one male and one female, to promote gender equality.
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra was performed during the Closing Ceremony of the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 at Olympic Stadium.
Indian Flag Bearers
MC Mary Kom, a boxer and Manpreet Singh, the captain of the Indian men's hockey team, led the Indian contingent out at the opening ceremony of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo's National Stadium.
Bronze-medalist Bajrang Punia was the flag-bearer at the closing ceremony of the event.
India's Performance
The Indian contingent at Tokyo Games 2020 was the largest ever at the Olympics with 125 athletes.
India ended its campaign at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 with 7 medals including 1 gold, 2 solver and 4 bronze medals, which makes up India's highest-ever medal tally.
Previous best performance was 2012 London Olympics with 6 medals including 2 silver and 4 bronze medals.
Neeraj Chopra India's star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won a historic gold medal in men's javelin throw (threw 87.58m) at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
He is the first athlete of independent India to win a gold medal in the track and field discipline.
Men's Hockey
Indian national men's hockey team defeated Germany by 5-4 and won bronze medal. After a 41-year wait (after 1980), the Indian hockey team won the medal.
There was a total of 339 Medal events in the Tokyo Olympic 2020.
Four new sports have been introduced in the Tokyo Olympics. These are karate, skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing.
Women's Hockey
Team qualified for the Olympic Games semi-finals for the first time. Team missed the bronze medal after a 3-4 loss against Great Britain.
Golf
Aditi Ashok: Indian golfer Aditi Ashok missed the Olympic medal and finished 4th in the Women's Individual Golf tournament. She was also the first female Indian Golfer to qualify for Olympics.
Weightlifting
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu: India's ace weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu claimed a silver medal in the Women's 49kg category. This was the first medal for India at the Olympics Game in Tokyo.
Boxing
Lovlina Borgohain: Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain has won a bronze medal after losing to the top seed Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey, in the Women's Welter (64-69kg) semi-final'.
Mary Kom: Former Olympic medalist, boxer MC Mary Kom was defeated by Colombian Ingrit Victoria Valencia and was forced to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics.
Pooja Rani: Middleweight boxer Pooja Rani lost to Li Qian (China).
Amit Panghal: Boxer Amit Panghal (52kg) was knocked out In the pre-quarterfinals, of the Olympics after a stunning 1-4 loss to Yuberjen Martinez ( Colombia).
Wrestling
Ravi Kumar Dahiya: Indian wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya settled for a silver medal in a 57kg freestyle final to Zavur Uguev (Russia).
Bajrang Punia: Bajrang Punia beat Daulet Niyazbekov (Kazakhstan) and won the bronze medal in men's freestyle 65kg wrestling.
Deepak Punia: Deepak Punia missed bronze after he was deafeated by San Marino's Myles Nazem Amine.
Badminton
PV Sindhu: Badminton player PV Sindhu defeated He Bingjiao (China) and won a bronze medal in the women's singles event at the Tokyo Olympics.
With this win, Sindhu' scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman and the only second Indian athlete to win two Olympic medals in individual events.
Other Notable Performers
Kamalpreet Kaur Discus thrower from Punjab, Seema Punia Discus thrower, Deepika Kumari Professional archer, Atanu Das Archer.
Bhavani Devi: Indian sabre fencer Bhavani Devi is the first Indian fencer to ever qualify for the Olympics after qualifying for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Sajan Prakash is an Indian swimmer Sajan Prakash became the first Indian swimmer to directly qualify for Tokyo Olympics.
Ashok Kumar: International wrestling referee Ashok Kumar became the only referee from India to officiate in wrestling matches of the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Top Ranker Nations and Indian Position in medal tally
1. USA– Gold—39, Silver—41, Bronze—33- Total—113
2. CHINA-- Gold -- 38, Silver—32, Bronze—18- Total—88
3. JAPAN-- Gold -- 27, Silver—14, Bronze—17- Total—58
4. INDIA -- Gold -- 1, Silver—2, Bronze—4- Total—7 --- 48th position
Outstanding Performances & Records
- Caeleb Dressel (USA) won 5 Gold medals in Tokyo in Swimming.
- Emma McKeon (Australia) won the most medals of any individual athlete in Tokyo with seven medals (4 Gold and 3 Bronze) in Swimming.
- Zhang Yufei (China) breaking the world record in the 4x200 m freestyle relay and won four medals (2 Gold and 2 Silver).
- Ariarne Titmus (Australia) set a new Olympic record in 200 m freestyle and won four medals (2 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze).
- Daike Hashimoto (Japan) won three medal (2 Gold and 1 Silver) in gymnastic.
- Duncan Scott (UK) won four medals (1 Gold and 3 Silver) at the Olympics in Swimming.
- Yulimar Rojas (Venezuela) set new world record in women's triple jump and won a Gold.
- Rai Benjamin (USA) won two medals (1 Gold and 1 Silver) and set new world record in the men's 400-m hurdles.