Tokyo Olympics: 5 Indians who can clinch a historic Olympic gold medal

4. Saikhom Mirabai Chanu

Saikhom Mirabai Chanu - The 'Pocket Dynamite' who can create history

Another woman who has the potential to create history at the Olympics is Saikhom Mirabai Chanu. In all probability, she is the only player who would represent India in weightlifting at the Tokyo Olympics.

The wrestler who competes in the 48 kg. category, is the only Indian to have won a gold medal at the IWF World Championships apart from the iconic Karnam Malleswari. Mirabai scripted history by winning the top honors in the 2017 edition. Only Karnam Malleswari had managed to win medals at this stage before her when she went on a medal spree from 1993 to 1996.

The Manipuri weightlifter can do what even Karnam Malleswari couldn't at the Sydney Olympics. However, in order to ensure that, she needs to do a few things. One, she needs to keep herself sane in snatch. She also needs to keep her back pain in control. Chanu needs to be wary of the Chinese challenge, however if she wants to win gold. If Mirabai overcomes these, the sky is the limit for her.

5. Vinesh Phogat

Vinesh Phogat - The lesser known 'Dangal Queen'

The lesser known, but much more consistent, wrestler from the famous Phogat clan, Vinesh Phogat is also a top contender for a historic Olympic gold medal.

Vinesh could have achieved her goal at the Rio Olympics itself. However, an unfortunate injury at the hands of her Chinese opponent Sun Yanan forced her out. The injury almost threatened to destroy her career.

However, Vinesh has nerves of steel. She has bounced back on the mat and given even the best a run for their money. She not only won a 2nd consecutive gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2018, but also scripted history by becoming the first female wrestler from India to win a gold medal at the Asian Games in 2018.

Her inspiring comeback was cemented by a historic bronze medal at the 2019 World Championships, for which she was nominated for a Laureus World Sports Award. As such, there is almost nothing that can stop this girl from adding the most valuable medal to the collection of the Phogat clan: An Olympic gold.

However, like Bajrang Punia, Vinesh has to overcome the Japanese challenge in order to script history. Once she does this, history awaits her.

Surprise Packages -

Apart from these 5, there are some others as well who can spring a surprise by winning an unlikely gold.

1) Deepak Punia -

Deepak Punia - An unpredictable grappler who can spring surprises any second

The young junior world champion almost scripted history when he bulldozed his way into the finals of the Wrestling World Championships 2019. He was only the fourth Indian to do so after Bishambar Singh, Sushil Kumar and Amit Kumar. However, stomach cramps prevented him from landing a shock defeat of the reigning Olympic champion, Hassan Yazdani from Iran.

2) Amit Panghal -

Amit Kumar - The soldier who can make impossible possible

The young Naib Subedar from Bhiwani Club in Haryana is to boxing what Bajrang Punia is to wrestling, PV Sindhu is to badminton and Rishabh Pant is to cricket. He is not only popular, but also equally successful in his sport.

He is the first Indian to enter the finals of the World Championships of boxing. Can he become the first Indian to win Olympic gold in boxing? Maybe he can, if he keeps his wits.

3) MC Mary Kom -

Can Mary Kom sign off with a historic gold?

For this Manipuri boxer, age is just a number. A six-time world champion, she is in the fray for a surprise Olympic medal, which would undoubtedly be her last. Can she turn it into gold? She can, because whenever people have written her off, Mary Kom has proved them wrong.