Tokyo Olympics 2021 : Day 1 Highlights

Mirabai Chanu - Tokyo Olympics 2021

Tokyo Olympics 2021 Highlights: Mirabai Chanu, who won a silver medal in women’s weightlifting at 49 kg, opened India’s medal count at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday. The 26-year old lifted a total weight of 202kg(87kg+115kg) and became the second weightlifter, after Karnam Malleswari from the 2000 Sydney Olympics, to win a medal at these Games. China’s Hou Zihui won the gold with a weight of 210kg, while Indonesia’s Aisah Windy Kantika took bronze with a weight of 194kg.

After topping the qualification rounds, Saurabh Chaudhary finished seventh in the 10m air pistol final. Deepika Kumari (archery) and Pravin Jadhav (mixed team event) advanced to the quarters but lost to South Korea. The men’s hockey team beat New Zealand 3-2 in their first group match to make a triumphant start to their campaign. India lost in women’s hockey to Netherlands 5-5. In badminton, B Sai Praneeth lost his men’s singles opener but Satwiksairaj Reddy and Chirag Shetty pulled off an upset by beating Chinese Taipei’s Yang Lee/Chi-Lin Wang 21-16, 16-21, 27-25 in their men’s doubles opener.

On the other hand, Sumit Nagal became the first Indian to win a tennis singles match since Leander Paes in 1996 Atlanta Games. Apurvi Chandela and Elavenil Valarivan failed to make it to the 10m air rifle final. However, Sumit Nagal became the first Indian to win a tennis singles match since 1996 Atlanta Games’ Leander Paes. In boxing, Vikas Krishan bowed out in his round of 32 welterweight bout against Japan’s Sewonrets Okazawa. The rowing pair of Arvind Singh and Arjun Lal Jat qualified for the repechage round after finishing fifth in the men’s lightweight double sculls heat. Judoka Sushila Devi’s challenge came to an early end in round of 32.