Tokyo Olympics 2020 Day Highlights: After Mirabai Chanu’s historic silver medal in weightlifting lifted Indian athletes’ spirits on the opening day of the Tokyo Olympics, India could not improve their medal tally on Day 2. However, it was a good day for the Indian rowing team of Arjun Lal and Arvind Singh that made it into the semifinals. Shuttler PV Sindhu won her opener in a fierce start to better Rio campaign. Paddler Manika Batra advanced to the third round.
Afterward, Mary Kom opened her Tokyo 2020 campaign with a round of 32 win in the 51kg category but fellow boxer Manish Kaushik (63kg category) faced an early exit with a loss in the round of 32. India’s disappointment in shooting, however, continued as Manu Bhaker, Yashaswini Deswal and Deepak Kumar, Divyansh Panwar failed to qualify for 10m air pistol in their respective categories.
Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina crash out of the women’s doubles after losing 6-0, 6-7(0), 8-10 to the Kichenok twins of Ukraine. India’s lone gymnast Pranati Nayak failed to qualify for All Round finals. Paddler G Sathiyan goes down in the first round after battling on for seven sets. India men’s hockey team were also defeated by a big margin of six goals by Australia. However, Manpreet Singh’s men have a chance to qualify for knockouts with a win over Spain on July 27.
India's Mirabai Chanu on the podium after receiving her silver medal in 49 Kg category of Weightlifting in Tokyo (PTI Photo)
USA's men's basketball team, which included Kevin Durant, suffered their first defeat since 2004 when they were beaten by France 83-76 in their first group game on Sunday. USA were leading 74-73 with just a minute to go. USA were on a 24 match winning streak.
Archery: India (Pravin Jadhav, Atanu Das and Tarundeep Rai) vs Kazakhstan in Men's Team 1/8 Eliminations: 6:00am IST
Badminton: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty vs Marcus Gideon Fernaldi/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (Indonesia) in Men's Doubles Group A Match: 9:10am IST.
Boxing: Ashish Kumar vs Erbieke Tuoheta (China) in Men's 75kg Round of 32 Bout: 3:06pm IST.
Fencing: C Bhavani Devi vs Nadia Ben Azizi (Tunisia) in Women's Sabre Individual Table of 64 match: 5:30am IST.
Hockey: India vs Germany in Women's Pool A match: 5:45pm IST
Sailing: Vishnu Saravanan in Men's Laser Race: 8:35am IST. Nethra Kumanan in Women's Laser Radial Race: 11:05am IST.
Shooting: Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Angad Vir Singh Bajwa in Men's Skeet Event Day 2: 6:30am IST. Mens' Skeet Final: 12:20pm IST.
Swimming: Sajan Prakash in Men's 200m Butterfly Heats: 3:45pm IST.
Table Tennis: Achanta Sharath Kamal vs Tiago Apolonia (Portugal) in Men's Singles Round 2 Match: 6:30am IST. Manika Batra vs Sofia Polcanova (Austria) in Women's Singles Round 3 match 12:00pm IST.
Tennis: Sumit Nagal vs Daniil Medvedev (ROC) in Men's Singles Round 2: Third match after 7:30am IST start.
Simone Biles, the reigning Olympic all-around champion who won four gold medals in Rio and was widely expected to substantially top that number during the Tokyo Games, on Sunday failed to qualify for the finals in the uneven bars. She has still qualified in the beam, floor, all-around and vault, meaning that if the U.S. team - currently in second place - takes gold, she could potentially win five golds.
The German women's gymnastics team wore full-body suits in qualifications at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday after saying their fashion choice went against the sexualisation of their sport and showed that women could wear what they choose.
The team, composed of Sarah Voss, Pauline Schaefer-Betz, Elisabeth Seitz and Kim Bui, opened their Olympic performance on the asymmetric bars wearing red and white unitards, which are combined leotards and leggings extending to the ankles.
US fencer Lee Kiefer clinched her first ever gold medal on Sunday in the individual women’s foil fencing event, beating defending champion Inna Deriglazova in the final.'To come out here and to feel good about your fencing is what all the athletes strive to do and hope you have a medal at the end, so I have everything,' Kiefer said after the finals.
The breezy morning in Beijing, 13 years ago, is still fresh in Yukiko Ueno’s mind. The Japanese pitcher, now 39, produced the finest performance of her career to orchestrate an upset over defending champions USA and clinch an Olympic gold. “Whenever I feel short of motivation, I turn back to that day, whenever I am facing setbacks, I turn back to the day. It changed my life forever,” she recently told Japan Times.
She had a monster playoff performance, she threw 413 pitches over three games in two days, in an IPL-style play-off, eliminator and final. Theirs was an intense rivalry between two softball powerhouses. Japan had the richest softball league in the world, though the US had hoarded gold medals in every Olympics since the sport’s inception at the Atlanta Games in 1996. She returned to a hero’s welcome, grabbed accolades and the profile of the sport expanded in Japan. “It meant, we started getting enough money to become full-time professionals, to not worry about livelihood,” she said, as she built on the success, became a ubiquitous face in commercials, and became something of softball’s Ninja lady.
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Maana Patel in women’s 100m backstroke and Srihari Nataraj in men’s 100m backstroke – competed but failed to qualify for semifinals.
Both clocked timings below their personal bests set in the European meets held last month in their respective heats.
Among 43 competitors, two did not start, Maana finished 39th clocking 1 minute 05.20 seconds. The 21-year-old from Ahmedabad entered the Olympics thanks to FINA’s Universality Quota and has a personal best of 1:03.77s a national record set at the Belgrade Trophy on June 20 in Serbia in the 100m backstroke event. Her previous record of 1:04.21s was set in 2015 in Uzbekistan.
The first public park where spectators can view an Olympic event on a large screen was held in the village of Yamanakako. A cycling race, that went through the municipality, was shown on an outdoor screen. Only people living in covid-free areas were allowed, reports The Japan News. "Even if people blame us for being discriminatory, we had no choice but to protect the lives of residents,” a village official was quoted. About 550 people turned up at the park with a planned viewing space for 2000.
Siblings sweep gold! Japanese Judoka Uta Abe won the women's 52-kg, while her elder brother Hifumi clinched men's 66-kg gold. Their father, a firefighter, had once thought Uto would be better off learning piano.
It was total annihilation from Australia as they scored seven goals against India. Only Dilpreet Singh managed to score the lone goal for India. Manpreet Singh's men sloppy while taking penalty corners and it was clearly visible. India will take on Spain in a bid to advance beyond the group stage. The goal difference may turn out to be a problem. FULL TIME | IND 1-7 AUS
Tim Brand beats PR Sreejesh one-on-one. An excellent counter-attack from Australia and Indian defense was in shambles. Australia are not done scoring yet and we can see a few more goals in the last quarter. IND 1-7 AUS
It has been a bad day at work for PR Sreejesh but he does well to deny Australia their seventh goal in the 49th minute after a collision with Blake Govers. He takes his time to get up and gets on with the job. IND 1-6 AUS
India looked promising after half-time scoring one goal but ended up conceding two more before the third quarter hooter. Australia scored off a penalty corner and a penalty stroke. India have been sloppy while taking penalty corners which is visible on the score line. Also, Rupinder Singh is struggling every time India gets a penalty corner. India should ensure that the goal difference does not get any larger as it will come in to play later in the tournament. IND 1-6 AUS
This is clinical from Australia. They score off the second consecutive penalty corner in the 42nd minute. Blake Govers scores again and India are getting thrashed out there. Meanwhile, Harmanpreet Kaur seemed to have pulled a muscle after falling during Australia's penalty corner. IND 1-6 AUS
A referral could not save India from giving away a penalty stroke. Blake Govers hits it to the left of PR Sreejesh. Back to square one for India. IND 1-5 AUS
Excellent referral from India earns them a penalty corner. However, once again India fail to convert it into a goal in the 40th minute of the game. IND 1-4
In the 34th minute, Dilpreet Singh finally finds the back of the end. Is this the opening India needed? India would at least like to narrow the lead as the goal difference may come into play later. IND 1-4
India's finishing has been way off in today's game. They have not been able to convert penalty corners into goals despite consecutive penalty corners in the 33rd minute. Also, green card for Australia's Alan Zalewski. IND 0-4
Another chance missed by India in the 32nd minute because of terrible fumbles. India are clearly under pressure here. They have earned penalty corners but have not been able to convert them into goals. IND 0-4
A harsh tackle from Dilpreet Singh after losing the ball on attack and the referee shows him a green card. The second quarter comes to an end and India conceded three goals in this passage of play. At half time, it looks like an easy win for Australia. IND 0-4 AUS
PR Sreejesh is having a hard time in the middle as Australia are hovering around the goal post every other minute. Australia have take a comfortable lead now. It seems like India's next group game against Spain is going to be a knockout fixture. IND 0-4 AUS
Wonderful field goal from Flynn Ogilvie in the 23rd minute and Australia are now dominating India. It is to be noted that Australia have won three gold medals in last four Olympics. India need a miracle here to make a comeback in the game. IND 0-3 AUS
While India were still searching for the equaliser, Australia earned two consecutive penalty corners and managed to score. Australia have extended their lead now. IND 0-1 AUS
Both the boxers are now full of energy in the middle of the ring, trying to land punches from the very first second. Very, very delicately poised. The southpaw from Haryana still looking for that one definitive jab... and the bell rings! After nervous moments for both the corners, the judges declare McCormack the winner 4-1 on split decision! Manish bows out but what an effort!
India earn another penalty corner in the last minute of the first quarter but the Australian defender keeps it out and denies India a chance to score the equaliser. As expected, it has been a high-voltage game so far.
Manish starts off on the same note... leaves himself open a bit. He has to find a way to land a punch on his opponent, something he has failed to do so far cleanly. He tries to dominate the centre of the ring... and the Indian edges it 3-2 in the second round.
PR Sreejsh dives to his right and saves the goal with his hockey stick. Australia are attacking in numbers here and India's counter-attacks have not been good enough. IND 0-1 AUS
Manish starts off defensively, keeping his distance from McCormack. He's holding his tight defence and attacking swiftly with his left. McCormack is trying his best to be on his toes and land a punch, but to no avail. Still, he has the edge. Judges feel so too.
First penalty corner for Australia and they convert it into a goal. PR Sreejesh is furious as the deflection made it past him. Beale gets Australia ahead in the 10th minute. IND 0-1 AUS
Manish Kaushik, the Commonwealth Games silver medallist, walks out to debut in his maiden Olympics, in red. He is set to fight Great Britain's Luke McCormack, who is in blue.
India earned the first penalty corner of the game and almost converted into a goal but it was too high for comfort. Still no goals scored. IND 0-0 AUS
A brilliant pass but that one lacked the finish. Shot off target and India waste a chance to take a lead in the seventh minute of the first quarter. IND 0-0 AUS
So far, India have not committed any major mistakes and they are fighting in the midfield. There was an early attempt from Australia in the first minute but Indian defenders averted the danger. Good five minutes of play from both teams in the first quarter. IND 0-0 AUS
Alongside the men's hockey action, boxer Manish Kaushik (63kg, lightweight category) has his first bout in a few minutes...
India XI: PR Sreejesh (GK), Rupinder Pal Singh, Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Manpreet Singh (C), Hardik Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Dilpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Shamser Singh.
Australia XI: Matthew Dawson, Edward Ockenden (C), Jacob Whetton, Joshua Simmonds, Aran Zalewski, James Beale, Trent Mitton, Tim Brand, Andrew Charter (GK), Jeremy Hayward, Andrew Ogilvie.
Both the Indian and Australian teams are out on the pitch now. The national anthems ensue before the start of the match.
The four-member French women's gymnastics team comes from three continents, since France has 'overseas territories' scattered across the globe. Melanie De Jesus Dos Santos is from Martinique in the Caribbean and Marine Boyer is from Reunion, in the Indian Ocean, off east coast of Africa. Overseas France comprising five territories is 3 percent of their population. The other two on the team are Aline Friess and Carolann Heduit. France are sitting sixth in all-around qualification right now.
India Playing XI: PR Sreejesh (GK), Rupinder Pal Singh, Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Manpreet Singh (C), Hardik Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Dilpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Shamser Singh
Australia Playing XI: Joseph Wickham, Matthew Dawson, Eddie Ockenden, Jake Whetton, Josh Simmons, Aran Zalewski, James Beale, Trent Mitton, Tim Brand, Andrew Charter (GK), Jeremy Hayward
PV Sindhu started off her Tokyo 2020 campaign with a commanding win over Israel's Polikarpova, but on the other hand, her compatriots in other events failed to shine. Manika Batra and Mary Kom registered wins later on. | SEE PHOTOS: Day 2 |
After a 3-2 win in their opener against New Zealand, India men's hockey team will now take on Australia next.
Simone Biles on Uneven Bars: 14.566, second amongst Americans behind Sunisa Lee (15.200). On the Beam, took two steps back on her dismount for 14.066. Lee topped with 14.200 on Beam besides Bars, pipping Carey for the all-around spot.
In the team all-around event for Tuesday, Russia enters final with highest qualifying team total (171.629) ahead of the USA (170.562) and China (166.863).
Bajrang Punia, who will be competing in the 65kg category, won't be in action until the later half of the first week of August.
Arjun Lal Jat and Arvind Singh's men's rowing lightweight double sculls repechage has been postponed due to a gathering storm in Tokyo. Because of the same reason, Vishnu Saravanan's second race in the men's laser individual has also been postponed.
A winner-takes-all situation here in the final round! A very energetic start by Mary as she tries to pin her opponent on the ropes. Sensational front-foot boxing. Garcia grows desperate but Mary's reflexes are top-notch, even at 38! A mother of four trying to keep her Olympic gold medal dream alive! And the judges name Mary the winner in this R32 bout! 4-1 on split decision!
A lot of calculation and slow pacing going on! After being hit early on, Mary tries to find some space as Garcia keeps up her defence well enough. Garcia ups her game as she moves faster but she's not able to land clean hits on her opponent.
The first round of three starts! Quite an energetic start from both the pugilists with Mary showing some good footwork in the ring! But Garcia is agile enough to avoid her opponent's punches. Mary gets a right on Garcia's face! 3-2 in favour of Mary!
Sensational comeback by Manika Batra sees her to the third round of Tokyo Olympics in women's singles of table tennis. She overcame 2-0 deficit to pull off an upset 4-3 win over World No 32 Margaryta Pesotska from Ukraine in just under an hour.
She now proceeds to round 3 where she faces 10th seed Sofia Polcanova.
Up next, the six-time wold champion Mary Kom will open her Tokyo Olympics campaign. India didn't have a great start in boxing yesterday as Manish Kaushik faced an early exit in his welterweight R32 bout. Can the legendary Mary beat her Dominican Republic opponent Miguelina Hernandez Garcia? The 38-year-old walks out for the bout in red. The match will start in a few minutes...
Manika Batra takes the match against World No 32 Margaryta Pesotska into the decider. The Indian player came back from a 2-0 deficit to make it 3-3, as we head to the final game.
Margaryta uses her experience to get the better of Manika in the fifth game. Manika looks frustrated as she loses the fifth set 11-8, trailing 3-2.
Manika Batra is back in the game! From 2-0 down , she claws back in the second round match to level it at 2-2. The fourth game was poised at 9-9 but the Indian did well to make a comeback.
It's only Qualification. So no dangerous Yurchenko double pike in competition for Simone Biles today, though she had previewed it on Thursday in practice. Biles chose Cheng and Amanar for qualis day.
Vault 1: Cheng. Got a higher lead-up onto the table after leaning too far on the handspring than desired. The block (pushoff the table) wasn't most ideal. She drifted sideways in flight and landed off bounds (0.3 deduction), but on her feet. Scored 14.966. There was an eye-roll and a grimace as she walked back for her second.
Vault 2: Amanar. It went mostly seamlessly, and had a small hop forward. No matter. Scored a monster 15.400. Averages 15.183. Jade Carey, again follows with 15.166, as both qualify for Vault. That was Simone Biles on an off day after a stumble. Still tops.
Brilliant from Manika Batra as she wins the third set 11-7. She goes on the attack and smashes forehand-after-forehand till Margaryta breaks. Margaryta leads 2-1.
Manika tries hard for a comeback, succeeds to take lead for the first time this match. She leads 8-6 as she tries to fight back.
Manika Batra has lost the first two games in her second-round match against Margaryta Pesotska, who dismisses Batra 11-4 again in six minutes to take a strong 2-0 lead.
It's not the best of starts for Indian paddler Manika Batra as she loses the first game 11-4 in just 5 minutes. Long way to go in the match though.
Manika Batra's second round match in the women's individual is underway. She's facing Ukraine's Margaryta Pesotska, who makes a fine start, takes 4-2 early lead.
Biles cops a deduction bouncing off the carpet on her second-to-last pass of her Floor Exercise. Owing to the high difficulty of her routine, she still top scores for USA with 14.133. Fellow American Jade Carey who scores 14.100 will likely advance to final too.
The first day of men’s skeet qualification has wrapped up for India men. Angad Bajwa has shot 24/25 in his third set to go 10th with 73/75. Mairaj went 22/25 to go 26th with 71/75. Since some participants are still shooting away, their placings will be decided later.
On Tuesday, Simone Biles and Team USA are aiming for team gold - their third straight. No country has won three successive team Olympic titles since Soviet Union's eight straight from 1952-1980. On 29 July, Thursday, in the women’s all-around individual final, Biles will look for back-to-back wins after Rio. She's aiming to join the exclusive club of Czech legend Vera Caslavska (1964, 1968) and Soviet Larisa Latynina (1956, 1960) who managed successive all-around triumphs.