Saurabh Chaudhary, PV Sindhu, Neeraj Chopra among top medal contenders at Tokyo Olympics

By
Shubhangi Chowdhury
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Kolkata: The upcoming Tokyo Olympics could be the most remarkable event in Indian sporting history. It’s easy to see why. If the veteran and established names have already secured their places in Tokyo, on the other hand, fresh and new talents will also make their debut in Olympics – a result of dedication, passion and loads of sacrifices.

India will be sending 228-member strong contingent including 119 athletes, who are going to witness an unforgettable tournament – the one that will be etched in their memory for a lifetime. Some have already created a buzz through their recent performances going into the Olympics which start from July 23.

Sportslight Media takes a look at five of India’s top medal contenders at the Tokyo Olympics.

Saurabh Chaudhary (Shooting) 

Shooter Saurabh Chaudhary is one of the top medal contenders for India, having won eight ISSF World Cup gold medals in the last four years. The 19-year-old booked his Tokyo Olympics quota in the 10m Air Pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in 2019 at home, courtesy of a gold medal and a world record in the process.

Prior to his Tokyo Olympics qualification, the current World No.2 had also won gold medals at the 2018 Youth Olympics and the Asian Games in Jakarta the same year. He is also the only Indian shooter to have won gold medals in ISSF World Cup, ISSF World Championship, Youth Olympics, Asian Games, and Asian Air Gun Championship.

Chaudhary will be hoping to now add the biggest prize of them all.

Neeraj Chopra (Javelin)

Neeraj Chopra is undoubtedly one of the best medal contenders at the Tokyo Olympics for India. The youngster has been setting an example since his U20 level winning the world title before topping the podiums at the 2017 Asian Championships and at the Commonwealth and Asian Games in 2018.

Neeraj qualified for the Tokyo Olympics throwing 87.86m bettering the Olympic Qualifying Mark of 85m, at an event at Potchefstroom in 2020. He threw his personal best of 88.07m at the Indian Grand Prix III in Patiala in March.

Returning to international competitions after almost two years, Neeraj bagged gold at the Lisbon meet (83.18m) and Karlstad Grand Prix (80.96m) before settling for a bronze at the Kuortane Games (a part of Diamond League) with 86.79m.

He even got a feeling of the Olympics lineup at the Kuortane Games competing against the likes of world champ Johannes Vetter and Keshorn Walcott. The 23-year-old will be hoping to do wonders on the track and put an end to the country’s long wait for an Olympic medal in athletics.

India’s men hockey team 

In recent years, the Indian men’s hockey team had experienced a renaissance. Currently ranked fourth in the world, the Men in Blue will be hoping to end a 41-year Olympic medal drought when they open their campaign against New Zealand at the Oi Hockey Stadium.

Led by Manpreet Singh and coached by Graham Reid, India have been in brilliant form this year winning six of the 10 matches played losing just once. They remained unbeaten in the European tour including a 6-1 thrashing of Germany, before dismantling Olympic champions Argentina at their own den in the FIH Pro League.

India could have got more competitive games before the Olympics had COVID not created havoc in India for the second time — almost 10-15 matches. However, with Manpreet and PR Sreejesh on the side, India have transformed into a well-drilled unit well supported by a slew of exciting youngsters.

PV Sindhu (Badminton)

Like Neeraj and Saurabh, shuttler PV Sindhu is another top medal hope for India at the Tokyo Olympics. After the likes of Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth failed to qualify for the Olympics, expectations will be a lot on the current World No.7.

The 25-year-old had suffered crushing defeats in the finals of the Swiss Open and the All England Open this year, but that rule Sindhu out of the calculations at the Tokyo Olympics. And with no Carolina Marin in the mix (opted out because of injury), chances are plenty for Sindhu in Tokyo.

It could be the catalyst that pushes her to perform even better in order to win the gold medal in Tokyo. Placed in Group J, Sindhu is seeded sixth at the Games and has a relatively easy draw up until the quarterfinal round.

MC Mary Kom (Boxing)

The six-time world champion Mary Kom is one of the most decorated pugilists globally. Nicknamed as ‘Magnificient Mary’, the Manipuri boxer rose to the occasion at the 2012 London Olympics where she clinched a bronze.

The only female Indian boxer to have won an Olympic medal, Mary Kom will be aiming to change the colour of the medal this year which is also going to be her last Olympics appearance. She didn’t qualify for the 2016 Olympics.

The mother of four is currently in red-hot form and will be entering Tokyo with a silver and a bronze medal in the Asian Championship and Boxam meet respectively. She is currently in Italy training.

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