Tokyo Olympics Highlights: Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu Wins India's 1st Medal, Manika Batra Progresses Into Singles Round 2
Tokyo Olympics Highlights: Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu opened up India's tally, winning a silver medal in her event. Meanwhile, paddler Manika Batra cruised into the Singles Round 2.
- Aakash Arya
- Updated:July 24, 2021 07:03 PM IST

Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu gave India its first medal at Tokyo 2020 as she won the silver medal in the women's 49kg category as China's Zhihu Hou took gold. China's Zhihu lifted 94kg to create an Olympic record while a new Olympic record was registered by Mirabai Chanu with a successful lift of 115kg in clean and jerk. Indian shooters, however, disappointed as Saurabh Chaudhary finished seventh in men's 10m Air Pistol final. Elavenil Valarivan finished at 16th while Apurvi Chandela finished 36th and therefore failed to qualify in the 10m air rifle women's qualification round.Â
Meanwhile, India's boxing campaign began on a poor note, as Vikas Krishan lost to Japan's Sewonrets Quincy Mensah Okazawa in his Men's Welter (69kg) Round of 32 clash. Also, the Indian women's hockey team began their campaign on a poor note, losing 1-5 to Netherlands in their Pool A fixture.
In table tennis singles event, Manika Batra won her first round match against Tin-Tin Ho of Great Britain in straight games. In doubles, India's Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra lost in straight games against the Chinese Taipei pair of Yun Ju Lin and Ching I Cheng in their Round of 16 clash in the mixed doubles event. In tennis, Sumit Nagal won his first round singles match against 2018 Asian Games gold medallist Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan. Indian badminton men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty overcame a difficult challenge from the Chinese Taipei's duo of Yang Lee and Chi-Lin Wang.
Meanwhile, badminton player Sai Praneeth lost to Misha Zilberman of Israel in the men's singles Group Stage. In men's hockey, India beat New Zealand 3-2 in the Pool A match as they recovered from a bad start early in the match. Indian women's hockey team will also be kick-starting their campaign on Day 2. In Archery, India's Deepika Kumari and Pravin Jadhav lost to South Korea's An San and Kim Je Deok in the quarterfinal.
- 18:49 (IST)Okay, that's it folks!Okay, that's it folks! Join us tomorrow for our live coverage of Day 3!
- 18:43 (IST)FULL-TIME | NED 5-1 INDIts full-time and Netherlands thrash India 5-1! It has been a disappointing game for Rani Rampal and Co.
We will come back stronger.
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) July 24, 2021
On to the next, #IndianEves! #NEDvIND #HaiTayyar #IndiaKaGame #TokyoTogether #StrongerTogether #HockeyInvites #WeAreTeamIndia #Tokyo2020 #Hockey pic.twitter.com/gysuz08nW5 - 18:42 (IST)Frustrated India | 1:23' 4th | NED 5-1 INDIndia are unable to even attack right now, and it has only been about the Dutch the entire game!
- 18:34 (IST)Netherlands score again | 8:45' 4th | NED 5-1 INDAnother goal for Netherlands and Caia Jacqueline van Maasakker scores this time.
- 18:28 (IST)India are breaking apart | 13:26' 4th | NED 4-1 INDIndia are breaking apart, and now the Dutch are just sitting deep and defending. Anyways, there is no time for India to level this game!
- 18:23 (IST)Netherlands score again | 49.1' 3rd | NED 4-1 INDA sensational goal by Frederique Matla, and she came through a long way with the ball, and went past everyone!
- 18:22 (IST)ANOTHER GOAL FOR NETHERLANDS | 3:21' 3rd | NED 3-1 INDAnother one for Netherlands. Felice Albers finds the back of the net again. Bad news for India!
- 18:09 (IST)GOALLLLL | 12:39' 3rd | NED 2-1 INDIt was a penalty corner, and India have conceding plenty of them. But this time the Dutch didn't waste their chance, and Margot van Geffen was there to convert it amongst the chaos.
- 17:53 (IST)Intermission | NED 1-1 INDThe second period comes to an end, and the scores are still level. Although Netherlands did hit the post once in this period from a penalty corner.
- 17:47 (IST)THAT WAS CLOSE | 5:56' 2nd | NED 1-1 INDThat was very close! Netherlands received a penalty corner, and the final move hit the post!
- 17:45 (IST)India soak in the pressure | 7:18' 2nd | NED 1-1 INDIndia are absorbing the pressure, with the Dutch continuously attacking. India has been counter-attacking often, but the Dutch have dealt with it well!
- 17:37 (IST)India try to increase the pressure | 13:38' 2nd | NED 1-1 INDThe second period has begun, and India are to increase the pressure. But the Dutch have more of the ball, and India are sitting deep to defend.
- 17:34 (IST)Intermission | NED 1-1 INDThe first period is over, and India are currently level at 1-1 against Netherlands. Felice Albers have the Dutch an early lead, but Rani Rampal equalised for India.
- 17:27 (IST)India EQUALISEEEE | 5:25' 1st | NED 1-1 INDWHAT A MISHAP BY THE DUTCH GOALKEEPER!It was chaos near the Dutch goal, with India spraying the ball around. Then Rani Rampal's attempt went past the goalkeeper's hands.
- 17:25 (IST)India are increasing the pressure | 6:22' 1st | NED 1-0 INDIndia are increasing the pressure and have more possession now. They are attacking a lot, but are not able to find the final move.
- 17:23 (IST)GOALL!!!! Felice Albers scores | 10:00' 1st | NED 1-0 INDGOALLLL!!! Felice Albers gives Netherlands the lead!!! WHAT A WAY TO START! POOR LUCK FOR INDIA IN THIS FIELD GOAL!
- 17:19 (IST)Both teams are trying to score the first goal | 12:00' 1st | NED 0-0 INDBoth India and Netherlands are trying to get the first goal, and are attacking continuously. There is not much midfield battle, and players are losing the ball way to easily.
- 17:14 (IST)Indian women's hockey team to begin their campaign!Indian women's hockey team will begin their campaign now! The players take their positions in the field. It will be test for India, against a tough Netherlands outfit.
- 16:55 (IST)Watch: The moment Sumit Nagal became the first Indian to advance to the second round of men's tennis at Olympics since 1996Sumit Nagal became the first Indian since 1996 to reach the second round of men's singles in Olympics. He defeated Denis Istomin 6-4, 6-7, 6-4. Leander Paes last did it in Atlanta 1996. He will also next face Daniil Medvedev.
.@nagalsumit - the first Indian to advance to the second round of men's singles #Tennis at the #Olympics since @Leander did it at Atlanta 1996! #IND
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) July 24, 2021
Next up, @DaniilMedwed! #BestOfTokyo | #Tokyo2020 | #StrongerTogether | #UnitedByEmotion pic.twitter.com/VeRcih23Dl - 16:33 (IST)One last outing for Team India on Day 2: Indian women's hockey teamThe Indian contingent have one last outing on Day 2, with the women's hockey team set to face Netherlands in the Pool A fixture. The match is expected to begin at 5:15 PM.
- 16:23 (IST)Vikas Krishan loses to Sewonrets Quincy Mensah OkazawaRound 3 is also over and the judges don't take much time to choose Sewonrets Quincy Mensah Okazawa as the winner. He defeats Vikas Krishan, 5-0.
- 16:19 (IST)Sewonrets Quincy Mensah Okazawa is toying with Vikas KrishanIt is getting worst for Vikas in Round 3. His Japanese opponent is toying with him!
- 16:17 (IST)Vikas Krishan receives a bloody eyeRound 2 has ended and Vikas already has a bloody eye. He needs to really bring his best skills into the ring now. Or is it already too late for him?
- 16:14 (IST)Vikas Krishan needs to amp up his tempo!Round 1 didn't have a winner, with both boxers trying to test each other. Round 2 has begun and Vikas has increased his tempo by a notch. But his Japanese opponent is pretty fast and has maintained his aggressive stance.
- 16:12 (IST)Vikas Krishan begins on a cautious note!Both boxers are testing each other in Round 1. Vikas Krishan is trying to save his energy, unlike his Japanese opponent, who has begun on an aggressive note!
- 16:10 (IST)Vikas Krishan begins India's boxing campaign!Now its time for India's boxing campaign to begin! Vikas Krishan enters, and will face Japan's Sewonrets Quincy Mensah Okazawa.
- 14:35 (IST)Mirabai Chanu Dedicates Medal To Country!Mirabai Chanu dedicates her silver medal to the country. Great gesture from the weightlifter
- 14:29 (IST)Table Tennis Women's Singles- Linda Bergstroem vs Sutirtha Mukherjee- Round 1- FinishSutirtha Mukherjee Wins 4-3 Vs Linda Bergstroem!India's Sutirtha Mukherjee took the seventh game to register a win in the first round against Linda Bergstroem of Sweden in the table tennis women's singles event.Score: 11-5 9-11 13-11 11-9 3-11 9-11 5-11
- 14:20 (IST)Table Tennis Women's Singles- Linda Bergstroem vs Sutirtha Mukherjee- Round 1Sutirtha Mukherjee Levels 3-3 Vs Linda Bergstroem!India's Sutirtha Mukherjee takes the sixth game as well to level score with Linda Bergstroem of Sweden three games all in the table tennis women's singles event.Score: 11-5 9-11 13-11 11-9 3-11 9-11
- 14:12 (IST)Table Tennis Women's Singles- Linda Bergstroem vs Sutirtha Mukherjee- Round 1Sutirtha Mukherjee Reduces Gap To 2-3 Vs Linda Bergstroem!India's Sutirtha Mukherjee takes the fifth game but is still trailing to Linda Bergstroem of Sweden three games to two in the table tennis women's singles event.Score: 11-5 9-11 13-11 11-9 3-11
- 14:01 (IST)Table Tennis Women's Singles- Linda Bergstroem vs Sutirtha Mukherjee- Round 1Linda Bergstroem Takes 3-1 Game Lead Vs Sutirtha Mukherjee!India's Sutirtha Mukherjee is trailing to Linda Bergstroem of Sweden three games to one in the table tennis women's singles event.Score: 11-5 9-11 13-11 11-9
- 13:59 (IST)Mirabai Chanu Making Family Proud!Proud family of Mirabai Chanu.
- 13:53 (IST)Table Tennis Women's Singles- Linda Bergstroem vs Sutirtha Mukherjee- Round 1Linda Bergstroem Takes 2-1 Game Lead Vs Sutirtha Mukherjee!India's Sutirtha Mukherjee is trailing to Linda Bergstroem of Sweden two games to one in the table tennis women's singles event.Score: 11-5 9-11 13-11
- 13:45 (IST)Tennis Singles - Novak Djokovic vs Hugo Dellien!Novak Djokovic Wins 1st Round Match!World no. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia won his first round match against Bolivia's Hugo Dellien comfortably in straight setsScore: 6-2 6-2
- 13:00 (IST)Table Tennis - Manika Batra vs Tin-Tin Ho - Round 1!Manika Batra Wins 1st Round Match!India's Manika Batra won her first round women's singles match versus Tin-Tin Ho of Great Britain in straight games - 11-7 11-6 12-10 11-9
- 12:53 (IST)Tennis Singles - Novak Djokovic vs Hugo Dellien!Novak Djokovic Wins 1st Set!World no. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia has won the first set comfortably by 6-2 against Bolivia's Hugo Dellien in the first round2nd set ongoing
- 12:49 (IST)Huge Achievement For Sumit Nagal- Men's Tennis!Let's not forget that Sumit Nagal was the last member to be included in India's Tokyo contingent
- 12:23 (IST)Men's 10m Air Pistol Final!Saurabh Chaudhary Eliminated!India's Saurabh Chaudhary finishes seventh in men's 10m Air Pistol final
- 12:16 (IST)Badminton Doubles - Indian Pair To Be In Action!India Win Third Game And Match!Indian men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty gave the Chinese Taipei's duo of Yang Lee and Chi-Lin Wang a run for their money in the deciding set as former duo won 27-25 to win the game.
- 12:10 (IST)Weightlifting - Mirabai Chanu Wins Silver In 49kg Category!Mirabai Chanu Wins Silver!Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu gives India its first medal at Tokyo 2020, winning the silver medal in the women's 49kg category.New Olympic record was registered by Mirabai Chanu with a successful lift of 115kg in clean and jerk.China's Zhihu Hou takes gold.
