Over 70 Indian athletes, including two teams, have already earned quota berths for this year’s Olympics in Japan, where the country is aiming to send over 100 athletes.

Archery

India can win a total of six quota places — three men’s and three women’s — in archery for Tokyo. The men’s quota places have already been secured, courtesy Atanu Das, Tarundeep Rai and Pravin Jadhav’s silver medal run as part of the recurve team, at the 2019 World Championships.

Deepika Kumari is the only woman to have won a quota so far. Now only the final Olympics qualification event remains — from June 18-21 in Paris — where the other two quota places can be secured. As it currently stands, now India can participate in men’s team, men’s individual, women’s team and mixed team recurve events in Tokyo.

Asked about India’s Tokyo prospects, Atanu, who, along with the other archers, is at the national camp in Pune, said: “Since the final team selection is not yet complete, I cannot comment on the team members and prospects yet. But one thing is for sure, this Olympic Games will be the best for Indian archery.”

Manu Bhaker Wikipedia

Athletics

In March 2019, KT Irfan was the first Indian athlete to qualify for the Olympics, in the 20km walk. As of now, the others to have made the cut include Avinash Sable (3000m steeplechase) Neeraj Chopra (javelin), Bhawna Jat (women’s 20km walk), Shivpal Singh (javelin) and the 4x400 mixed relay team.

But as for India’s prospects, Anju Bobby George, India’s sole medal winner at the World Athletics and current senior vice-president of the Athletics Federation of India, has this to say: “Prediction, at this point, is a trifle difficult for we have scant idea of where the athletes stand. As of now, I can say we are hopeful about the relay teams, the throws and the jumps.”

PV Sindhu Telegraph file picture

Badminton

Boasting of world champion PV Sindhu, an Olympic silver medallist, and Olympic bronze medal holder Saina Nehwal, medal hopes from this discipline touch high.

The Olympic qualification circle will start with the Swiss Open from March 2-7 and altogether there will be 17 tournaments carrying ranking points towards qualification.

Indian shuttlers will have the advantage of playing the last qualification event on home turf as the India Open has been scheduled from May 11-16.

Says Pullela Gopichand, the national coach: “The crucial stage begins now. And all our players who qualify have a good chance to clinch a medal, be it Sindhu or Saina in women’s singles, B. Sai Praneeth or Kidambi Srikanth in men’s singles, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in men’s doubles or Ashwini Ponappa and Satwik in the mixed.”

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Boxing

Nine Indian boxers — 5 men and 4 women — have qualified for the Olympics, making this India’s biggest-ever boxing contingent at the Games. At the World Olympic qualifiers in June in Paris, four more (1 weight category for women and 3 for men) can qualify.

According to women’s national coach, Mohammed Ali Qamar, the future for Indian boxers look bright. “Why not? Our girls have been winning 3-4 medals at the World Championships for the last three years. The men too have performed well. Their competitors in Tokyo won’t be anyone beyond those they’ve been meeting at the Worlds, and defeating. So chances of Olympics medals are bright.”

As of now, among the men, Amit Panghal (52kg) and Vikas Krishan (75kg) and MC Mary Kom (51kg), among women, look to be the best bet. Though, of course, the luck of the draw plays a big role.

Hockey

Both the Manpreet Singh-led men’s team, ranked fourth in the world, and the Rani Rampal-led women, ranked ninth, have sealed Olympic berths. The women begin their Olympic preparations with a tour of Argentina where they will compete in 8 matches, from January 17 to 31. Rani feels a good show in Argentina will give her girls a much-needed boost. Hockey India has also been in talks with different nations to organise a tour for the men who played their last international against Australia on February 22 at the FIH Hockey Pro League. Both carry a 16-member squad, and hopes of the nation, to Tokyo.

Saurabh Chaudhary Telegraph file picture

Shooting

India shooters were on a high before the pandemic struck. In June 2020, a 34-member core group for the Tokyo Olympics was announced, which included all the 15 shooters who had earned quota places.

Headlining the strong contingent are youngsters Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary. The two

18-year-olds have a good chance of winning a medal in the 10m mixed team air pistol event. The event will be making its Olympics debut in Tokyo. Even in their individual events, Manu (25 and 10m pistol) and Saurabh (10m pistol) stand a chance. Among women, Apurvi Chandela and Elavenil Valarivan (10m rifle) could finish on the podium.

Olympian and coach Joydeep Karmakar said: “There is a high chance of winning a medal in the mixed team air pistol.” Gagan Narang, bronze medal winner in 10m air rifle at the London Olympics, said: “A clearer picture will emerge once the selection trials take place in January/February.”

Tennis

For Indian tennis, the drama is always more intense ahead of the Olympics, rather than on the court itself. The last few Games had seen the All India Tennis Association struggling to actually pick the team, with tension between players causing serious issues.

Zeeshan Ali, India’s Davis Cup coach, said: “Rankings from six weeks before the Olympics will be considered for the draw. So the best chance will be in men’s doubles or mixed doubles (if Sania Mirza gets a wild card).”

Leander Paes, the only tennis player in the world to compete at seven Olympic Games, is still eager to make the Tokyo team. “If I am in, then India goes into the record books again. Also, I will give my best to win another medal. That will be a dream come true,” said the 1996 Atlanta Games bronze winner. The 47-year-old, however, is ranked 129 in men’s doubles, and may struggle to make the team. Rohan Bopanna (World No. 39 in doubles), Prajnesh Gunneswaran and Sumit Nagal will all be in contention.

Mirabai Chanu Wikipedia

Weightlifting

Many tout 2017 World Championships gold medal-winning lifter Mirabai Chanu as a serious medal contender. The talented Chanu (49kg), who lifted 203kg to win gold at the Nationals in Calcutta last year, has been on a training-cum-rehab programme in the US and is now back at the national camp in Mumbai.

Wrestling

Of the 17 individual medals that India have won at the Olympics, five have been earned by the wrestlers. For Tokyo, Vinesh Phogat (women’s freestyle 53kg), Bajrang Punia (men’s freestyle 65kg), Ravi Kumar Dahiya (men’s freestyle 57kg) and Deepak Punia (men’s freestyle 86kg) have earned quota berths.

However, the final team will be selected only after the nationals in January/February and the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Almaty from April 9-11.

Vinesh and Bajrang are medal hopes. India’s only multiple individual Olympic medal winner, Sushil Kumar, is keen to make Tokyo the last stop of his illustrious career, but he has not yet qualified. “I believe I can still qualify and then anything can happen. My dream is to win a third medal,” Sushil said.