‘That will be more gold, more silver and more bronze’: Virat Kohli to Olympians
India garnered a total of 7 medals in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, comprising 1 gold, 2 silver, and 4 bronze accolades, marking a commendable achievement for the nation.
Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu opened India’s medal account at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a silver in the women’s 49kg.
Lovlina Borgohain won a bronze medal in Women’s welterweight boxing.
PV Sindhu beat China’s He Bing Jiao to win the bronze medal in the women’s singles badminton.
Ravi Kumar Dahiya lost to twice world champion Zavur Uguev of ROC in the final of the men’s 57kg freestyle wrestling, thus ending up with a silver medal.
After a 41-year wait, the Indian men’s hockey team finally have an Olympic medal since the gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. After being 3-1 down at one point, India made a big comeback to beat Germany 5-4 and claim the bronze medal.
Wrestler Bajrang Punia became the third Indian debutant to win a medal at Tokyo 2020,in the men’s 65kg freestyle wrestling playoff to claim the bronze medal.
Neeraj Chopra became India’s second individual Olympic champion – after Abhinav Bindra – with his men’s javelin throw gold at Tokyo 2020. It was India’s first track-and-field medal at any Olympic Games.
In a little more than a minute-long social media video, Kohli stated that it is time for India to be acknowledged as a major player in international sports. The film featured some sportsmen headed to Paris, including boxing prospect Nishant Dev and javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra.
“There was a time when the world could only think of India as a land of snake charmers and elephants. Over time, that has changed. Today we are known to the world as the largest democracy, a global tech hub,” he said.
“We are known for cricket and Bollywood, for start-up unicorns and as the fastest growing economy in the world. So, what is the next big thing for this great nation? Well, that will be more gold, more silver and more bronze,” he added.
He continued by addressing Indian sports supporters, pleading with them to cheer on the 118 athletes who would be trying to surpass the nation’s record of seven medals won at the previous Games in Tokyo.
“Our brothers and sisters are headed to Paris, hungry for medals. A billion of us will be watching them nervous and excited as our athletes set foot in the tracks and fields and courts and rings.
“Every neighbourhood, every corner of India will hear a chorus of voices chanting ‘India, India, India’. Join me in remembering their faces as they inch closer to the podium with the dogged determination of waving the Tiranga with pride. Jai Hind and good luck India,” Kohli, who is currently in London on a break after India’s T20 World Cup triumph in the West Indies last month, said in his monologue.
The majority of the Indian athletes are now training overseas and will travel from their separate sites to the French capital.
Aside from the anticipation of a second consecutive podium finish from Chopra, who made history with his javelin throw gold in Tokyo, India’s medal hopes will depend on shooting, badminton, wrestling, and boxing.
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