Photos: India’s best-ever Olympic performance
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games drew to a close on August 8 and India seems to have saved her best for the last at the Games. Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal in track-and-field at the biggest stage of world sports. Chopra’s monstrous throw of 87.58m saw him clinch the biggest prize with ease at the men’s javelin throw event on August 7. India capped off its best-ever performance in the Olympics with a haul of seven medals, including a gold. A look at India’s medalists and the notable mentions who created history at the Tokyo Games.
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Neeraj Chopra in action during Tokyo 2020 Olympics Athletics men's Javelin throw Final at Olympic Stadium, on August 7, 2021. Chopra on August 7 threw the javelin to a distance of 87.58m to pick the gold at the Olympics. He began his quest for a medal with a massive throw of 87.03 meters and was leading the pack after the end of the first attempt. He bettered it with the second throw of 87.58m.(Aleksandra Szmigiel / REUTERS)
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Neeraj Chopra during the medal ceremony for the men's javelin throw at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in Tokyo on August 7. This is India’s first track-and-field medal in the Olympics and Chopra became only the second Indian after Abhinav Bindra to win an individual gold in the Olympics.(AP / PTI)
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Saikhom Mirabai Chanu competes in the women's 49kg weightlifting competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo International Forum on July 24. Chanu lifted the spirits of the entire nation as she ended a 21-year wait for a medal in weightlifting, clinching a silver medal in the 49kg category to open India's account on the very first day of the Tokyo Games.(Chris Graythen / AFP)
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Ravi Kumar reacts after winning against Nurislam Sanayev of Kazakhstan during Tokyo 2020 Olympics Freestyle men's 57kg Wrestling Semifinal at Makuhari Messe Hall A, in Chiba on August 4. The 23-year-grappler from Nahri village of Sonepat district in Haryana stormed to the final of the men's 57kg freestyle event. Although he fetched a silver, his immense strength and stamina along with technical prowess impressed one and all.(Piroschka Van De Wouw / REUTERS)
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