Neeraj Chopra, Other Medallists, Athletes Return Home To Huge Celebrations
Neeraj Chopra, Bajrang Punia, Lovlina Borgohain, Ravi Dahiya and the men's and women's hockey teams returned to India from Tokyo to huge celebrations on Monday.
Highlights
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India's Olympic contingent returned home to a grand welcome
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Neeraj Chopra, Bajrang Punia and other medallists landed on Monday
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The athletes were welcomed by a Sports Authority of India delegation
India's Olympic contingent, including history-making javelin throw gold-medallist Neeraj Chopra, returned to the country on Monday and was received enthusiastically by officials even as a frenzied crowd gathered outside the airport to welcome the heroes of the country's best ever Games campaign. The athletes were welcomed by a Sports Authority of India delegation headed by its Director General Sandeep Pradhan. Athletics Federation of India head Adille Sumariwala also accompanied him. The athletes were garlanded and presented with bouquets on arrival and were applauded by the airport staff as they made their way out to utter chaos due to the huge presence of supporters and media personnel.
The huge gathering meant that social distancing norms went for a toss as people rushed in to catch a glimpse of the stars of the historic performance.
That's the great Grand entry of #India's first track & field #Olympics Champion #NeerajChopra
- Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) August 9, 2021
Welcome home son of #India
What crazy scenes here at IGI airport pic.twitter.com/B3jR3FL54p
India surpassed their previous best haul of six medals achieved in the 2012 London Games with one gold, two silver and four bronze medals in Tokyo.
That's Indian Hockey team that just arrived in #India from #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/FEir2wNqlS
- Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) August 9, 2021
- Boxing Federation (@BFI_official) August 9, 2021
Watch Olympic medalist @LovlinaBorgohai 's reaction after coming back home from @Tokyo2020 #Boxing#Tokyo2020#TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/SIsV8JSW07
While Chopra added the golden sheen to the campaign, the silver medals came from weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya. The bronze medals were claimed by boxer Lovlina Borgohain, shuttler PV Sindhu, the men's hockey team and wrestler Bajrang Punia.
Of the medal winners, Chanu and Sindhu had returned to the country earlier after the completion of their events as COVID-19 protocols required athletes to leave Tokyo within 48 hours of the medal ceremony.
India had sent a 228-strong contingent for the Games, including more than 120 athletes. This was the country's biggest ever presence at the quadrennial showpiece which took place after a delay of one year due to the pandemic.