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The Tokyo Summer Olympics 2020 will to take place in the coming year with the action set to begin in the capital city of Japan from 24th July and will carry on till August, 2020. The world's best athletes will compete across a wide variety of sporting disciplines as they aim to achieve the pinnacle of their sporting careers.
Indian athletes have been grinding it out all across the world getting themselves ready for the mega event. The 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games were a great testing ground for them as the Indian contingent won a total of 66 medals - 26 gold, 20 silver and 20 bronze medals.
Across all the editions of the Summer Olympics Games, India has won 28 medals; 9 golds, 7 silvers, and 12 bronze medals. We take a look at some of the athletes who are in a prime position to do well in Tokyo and get a podium finish.
#5 Neeraj Chopra - Javelin Throw
Neeraj Chopra is one of the best javelin throwers in the world currently and has been in fine form over the past couple of years. He won the 2018 Asian Games gold medal with a throw of 88.06 metres, setting a new National Record in Jakarta - Palembang, Indonesia.
Chopra also clinched the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games gold with a winning throw of 86.47 metres, a distance which would have got him the gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics. He was active on the IAAF Diamond League season in 2018 competing across the globe and doing well as he finished in the fourth position.
Neeraj Chopra has had a quiet 2019 recuperating his health after an elbow surgery and will be aiming to be in the best condition to grab his first Olympic medal on his debut at the mega event.
#4 Vinesh Phogat - Wrestling
The young 25-year old Vinesh Phogat belongs to the famous Phogat family of wrestlers from Haryana's Bhiwani District. Her cousin sisters Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari Phogat have won medals for India at the Commonwealth Games.
Vinesh Phogat has stayed true to her roots and excelled on the mat for India becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to win gold medals at both the Asian Games as well as the Commonwealth Games. Vinesh was triumphant at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games in the 50 kg category becoming the first Indian women to do so. In addition to this, she won at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in the same weight category. The win in Australia was her second gold medal at the Commonwealth Games after having won at the 2014 Glasgow Games in the 48 kg category.
Phogat has had a good run in 2019 as she finished with the bronze medal at the 2019 World Wrestling Championships held in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan where she competed in the 53 kg category. She also won the bronze medal at the 2019 Asian Wrestling Champions held in China and had two gold medals at the 2019 Yasar Dogu International and the 2019 Poland Open Wrestling tournament.
As a result of her bronze at the 2019 World Wrestling Championship, Phogat became the first Indian wrestler to clinch a spot at the Tokyo Olympics and will be a solid favorite in the 53 kg category to get a medal finish.
#3 Manu Bhaker - Shooting
Manu Bhaker is a 17-year old who has steadily risen to top of the ranks amongst the Indian shooters establishing herself on the domestic and International circuit.
Bhaker became the youngest Indian shooter to win a gold medal at the ISSF World Cup when she claimed the 10 metre Air Pistol gold at the 2018 Guadalajara World Cup at the age of 16. She has been active on the circuit since the young age of 14 winning medals at the Junior level and transitioned quickly to the Senior level with success.
Bhaker won a second gold medal at the 2018 Guadalajara ISSF World Cup winning the 10 metre Air Pistol mixed team event with Om Prakash Mitharwal. One of the best moments of her career so far was when she claimed the gold medal for India at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in the 10 metre Air Pistol event.
She has continued to do well during the 2019 season of the shooting circuit winning multiple medals at the ISSF World Cups getting gold medals in New Delhi, Beijing, Munich, Rio De Janeiro and the recently concluded tournament in Putian, China. She also won the individual and mixed team gold at the 2019 Doha Asian Shooting Championships.
Bhaker has built a strong resume in the past two years and set the stage for success on the biggest stage, the Olympics qualifying early and will be a prime candidate for a podium finish.
#2 Mirabai Chanu - Weightlifting
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu is an Indian weightlifter who hails from the North-Eastern state of Manipur. Chanu has been a regular feature for India across International events establishing herself as one of the best weightlifters in the world.
Mirabai Chanu had qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics in the Women's 48 kg category but was unable to finish the event failing to complete her three attempts successfully. However, she bounced back the following year winning a gold medal at the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships held in the United States. She lifted a total of 194 kg (85 kg Snatch and 109 kg Clean and Jerk) to win the top prize.
In 2018, Chanu clinched her first Commonwealth Games gold medal as she defeated the competition in the Women's 48 kg category winning with a lift of 196 kg (86 kg Snatch and 110 kg Clean and Jerk).
She has continued to do well in the 2019 season as well, finishing fourth at the 2019 Asian and World Weightlifting Championships and will aim to get in top form as the Tokyo Olympics draws near.
#1 PV Sindhu - Badminton
Pusarla Venkata Sindhu, or PV Sindhu as she is popularly known, has risen to the top of the Indian sporting scenario becoming one of the most decorated badminton players in Indian history.
Sindhu is perhaps the best women's singles player in India alongside Saina Nehwal and has continued to maintain a top level of form on the International circuit over the course of many years. She marked the 2019 season with a win at the BWF World Championships held in Basel, Switzerland defeating her Japanese rival Nozomi Okhuara.
Sindhu is the second woman after Chinese badminton legend Zhang Ning to win five medals at the World Championships. She has won one gold, two silvers and two bronze at the BWF World Championships. One of the best moments for her career was when she won the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
With the World Championship win in her kitty and the multiple Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and Asian Championships medals on her resume, PV Sindhu is one of the top athletes tipped to get an Olympics medal for India in Tokyo.
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