How to watch Tokyo Olympics 2020 in India: Schedule of Indian players and Medal tally
The Tokyo Olympic Games will formally get off tomorrow (July 23) with a low-key opening ceremony in which only a limited number of sportspersons from 206 competing nations will participate, and alas, there will be no spectators in the stands.
The pandemic has played havoc with the Games, which was originally set for last year, and it is only because of the commitment and organisational zeal of the host nation that we will get to witness great sporting action that help take our minds off the virus and its problems.
Tokyo is hosting the Olympic Games for the second time. the previous occasion was 1964.
Though the Games begin tomorrow and end on August 9, matches in sports like women's football and softball have been happening from yesterday.
Softball is one of the six new sports introduced in this year's Games. The other five new sports are: baseball, karate, sport climbing, surfing, and skateboarding. For the record, 15 new 'events' have also been added to the Games.
The opening ceremony will be conducted at the National Stadium in Tokyo. The event will begin live at 4:30 p.m. IST.
Men's hockey player Manpreet Singh and woman boxer Mary Kom will be India's flag-bearers at the opening ceremony.
Key event
Indian Men's Hockey team will take on Belgium in the semi-finals on August 3 at 7am IST
From an Indian perspective, this is the largest ever contingent that it has sent to any Olympics. A total of 127 sportspersons will represent the country in 18 disciplines.
Indians will be seen in action in: Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Equestrian, Fencing, Hockey, Golf, Gymnastics, Judo, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Weightlifting and Wrestling.
There is plenty of hype in the media, and just going by the reports it would seem that almost all of them are top medal contenders in their respective events.
But the reality is a bit more sobering. Having said that there is a real hope that Indian will better its performance from the last Games at Rio. India had a poor Olympics last time around with a paltry return of just two medals in 2016. It was a silver for PV Sindhu in the women's singles badminton event and a bronze for wrestler Sakshi Malik in the women's 58kg freestyle wrestling event.
Medal prospects for India
Will Manu Bhaker be on target?(Image credit: Twitter)
In the Indian contingent, the shooters look to be the big favourites. The 15-member squad comprises, among others, big medal hopes Manu Bhaker (10m Women's Air Pistol) and Saurabh Chaudhary (10m Men's Air Pistol).
In badminton, Sindhu is there, while in women's boxing (flyweight) Mary Kom is always present Vinay Phogat is the star attraction of the squad in women's wrestling. Mirabai Chanu' is the one to watch out for in women's 48kg weightlifting. Deepika Kumari, who recently won three golds at the Archery World Cup in Paris, will be the cynosure of all eyes in bow and arrow.
India is participating in two events for the first time, with Bhavani Devi becoming the first fencer to qualify and Fouaad Mirza making it to the equestrian event.
Of course athletes like Tajinder Pal Toor (shotput), Neeraj Chopra (javelin) offer a glimmer of hope in track and field.
India's Olympic blue-eyed boys, the hockey team, though nowhere near being among top, can spring a surprise or two.
Historically, India's best showing in Olympics was in London 2012 - it won six medals.
Winnings
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Total
0
1
1
2
Bronze in Badminton
On August 1, PV Sindhu won (21-13, 21-15) the Bronze medal against China's He Bingjiao in Women's Singles Badminton to win India second medal in the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
Silver in Weightlifting
On July 24, Mirabai Chanu won India's first medal at Tokyo Olympics 2020, opening India's account. She won the medal for India in Women's 49kg Weightlifting category.
How to watch Tokyo Olympics in India
The official broadcaster of Tokyo Olympics in India Sony Sports Network. Sony will broadcast the Games live on 5 network channels & 4 languages. It will be available on Sony Six, Sony Ten 1, Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 3 and Sony Ten 4 channels.
On the OTT platform, SonyLIV will stream the Olympic Games.
Aside from Sony, the national broadcaster Prasar Bharati’s Doordarshan will also air the Games live. Needless to say, its focus will be on the events that have Indian participation.
The complete schedule of Indians at the Olympics
(Image credit: kuremo / Shutterstock.com)
July 23 (All timings in IST hrs)
Archery – Women’s individual ranking round – 5:30
Archery – Men’s individual ranking round – 9:30
July 24
Archery – Mixed team round of 16 – 6:00
Archery – Mixed team medal rounds – 10:45
Badminton – Men’s doubles prelims – 8:50
Badminton – Men’s singles prelims – 9:30
Boxing – Women’s welterweight – 8:00
Boxing – Men’s welterweight round of 32 – 9:54
Boxing – Men’s super heavyweight round of 32 – 19:42