Tokyo 2020: USA gets back to top as the Olympic games of hope come to an end

India had its best ever medals tally in 93 years, with 7 Medals, including a Gold

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  The United States wrested back its number one position in the medals tally as curtain was rung down on the 32nd Olympic games following a spectacular evening full of color, dance and swirling rings on Sunday, August 8.

• The Olympic Games have come to an end after a stunning closing ceremony at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium.

• The Olympic flame, which had continued to burn bright ever since the opening ceremony, was extinguished and as fireworks sparkled overhead, the word ‘Arigato’ (thank you) was displayed on LED screens inside the stadium in the same font that was used to spell out ‘Sayonara’ (goodbye) at the conclusion of the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games.

The world leader in sports, the USA, was back at the top of the medals tally on the last day pushing its new rival China to a close second spot. The US won 39 gold, one more than China, to head the table with an aggregate of 113 medals. This tally included 41 silver and 33 bronze medals.

China on the other hand had 38 gold, 32 silver and 18 bronze medals to total 88 medals.

Canada also had its highest medal tally since the 1984 LA games as it won seven gold, six silver and 11 bronze medals.

India had its best ever medals tally in 93 years. It won for the first-time medals of all three colors – gold, silver and bronze – by aggregating seven.

In fact, almost all participating nations were returning home on a cheerful note. The Philippines and Bermuda got their first ever gold medals in the Olympic games.

Women athletes have once again done Canada proud. They not only won 17 of 23 medals the country won at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games but also sent a very strong message that they are second to none.

It is Canada’s largest number of medals at an Olympic Summer Games since Los Angeles 1984

The women’s soccer team won Canada’s first gold medal in a women’s summer team sport. It is also the first Canadian gold medal for a summer team sport in 113 years, dating back to the men’s lacrosse team‘s triumph at London 1908.

And the triumph of the soccer team had another feather to its cap. Its player Quinn became the first openly transgender, non-binary athlete to win an Olympic medal.

In Tokyo, Canada had a record participation in eight team sports. Canada also won its ever medal in softball, a bronze.

India, on a new high

Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra   has emerged as a new star on Indian sports horizon as he gave a golden finish to the country’s engagements in the 32nd Olympic games in Tokyo on Saturday.

His superb first two throws of 87.03 and 87.58 m were sufficient for India to wrest its first ever Olympic medal in athletics and end its campaign on a golden note, giving the country its only second individual gold medal in 93 years. The last time India won an individual gold was in Beijing in 2008 where shooter Abhinav Bindra finished at top in 10 m air pistol shooting.

Besides Neeraj Chopra’s gold, India had a fruitful day. Wrestler Bajrang Punia recorded an excellent points win over his Kazakhstan rival Daulet Niayazbekov for the country’s fourth bronze medal. With a little luck, India could have got its first Olympic medal in golf but young Aditi finished just a shot behind.

Neeraj feat provided a golden cap to earlier efforts of an Olympic medal in athletics. Quarter mile runner Flying Sikh Milkha Singh missed it in Rome (1960) while hurdler Gurbachan Randhawa in Tokyo (1964). PT Usha was another athlete to finish among the top four.

India ended its campaign with its highest ever medal tally of seven, including Neeraj Chopra’s gold, silver medals of Mirabai Chanu and Ravi Kumar Dahiya besides bronze medals by Bajrang Punia, men’s hockey team, PV Sindhu and boxer Lovlina.

India’s previous highest medal tally was six in London 2012 where the country had won two Silver and four bronze medals.

 The Tokyo Olympic games, however, turned out to be very special for India.

 Not only did the country win its first ever medal in athletics, it also returned to the podium in men’s hockey after a long gap of 41 years. Last time India won a medal in hockey was a gold in Moscow in 1980 and now the team ended with a bronze medal.

Neeraj Chopra, who had qualified for the finals with his sole throw of 86.53 m in the preliminaries, was in full command from the start of the final. His first throw of 87.03 m gave a strong message to all his 11 rivals, including Nadeem Ashraf of Pakistan who finished fifth with 84.62 m.

His main rivals were javelin throwers from Czech and Germany. While Czech throwers ended with silver and bronze medals with throws of 86.67 and 85.44 m, German thrower Julian Webber cleared 85.30 m.

Seven in a row for US women cagers

The US women’s basketball team has capped its dominant run at the Olympics with a rout of Japan 90-75 for its seventh consecutive gold medal thus overtaking India’s record of six gold medals in a row in field hockey.

The team has now won 55 consecutive games at the Olympics. The last time it lost a game in this tournament was in 1992.

Team USA’s women’s basketball team have extended their gold-winning run to seven straight Olympic Games after a 90-75 win over Japan.

The USA dominated from the start, building a 23-14 lead in the first quarter that they never relinquished. To put their record at the Olympic Games into perspective, the team has not lost a game in Olympic competition since Barcelona 1992.

The game was the second time the USA and Japan have met at Tokyo 2020, with the USA beating their opponents by 17 points in the first game compared to 15 today.

Brittney Griner had an excellent final, scoring 30 points as the USA surged ahead, while A’ja Wilson netted 19. For Japan, TAKADA Maki scored 17 points, with MOTOHASHI Nako adding a further 16.

For Japan, a silver on home soil represents an excellent achievement, with a fifth-place finish at Montreal 1976 their best until today. It is their second silver medal at an international tournament after they took second place at the Women’s Basketball World Cup, all the way back in 1975.

“Seven in a row, I mean that’s just amazing. That just goes to show everything USA basketball’s about,” Griner said.

However, she tipped her hat to her Japanese opponents.

“Japan’s hard to guard. They can shoot it anywhere on the court. They’re a tough guard, they’re a really good team. I’m just glad we’ve got this gold.”

And Diana Taurasi, who has now won a total of five Olympic Games basketball gold medals since Athens 2004, said: “What can you say? It’s 20 years of sacrifice, of putting everything aside and just wanting to win. It’s never easy playing on this team (with) the pressure, but this group found a way to win and I’m just happy this group got to enjoy it.”

Canada wins gold in women’s soccer

Canada claimed a first-ever gold medal in women’s Olympic football with a penalty shootout win over the Swedes after 120 minutes of regular and extra-time finished deadlocked at 1-1. The game, from the International Stadium Yokohama on 6 August, was a classic final and Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe was the hero on the day, sending her country to the top of the podium for the first time after a pair of bronzes in 2012 and 2016.

For the losing Swedes, it’s their second straight silver medal after winning the same prize in Rio in 2016.

“It even looks prettier,” Canada’s veteran captain Christine Sinclair said about her first gold medal, which will slot right into the trophy cabinet beside her pair of bronzes. “I honestly can’t believe what just happened. We had a goal coming here to change the color of the medal and we landed on the top of the podium. It’s such an honor to be a part of this special group.”

Brazil wins gold in soccer

 It took a goal deep in extra-time from super-sub Malcom to see Brazil beat Spain 2-1 and claim their second (and second-straight) gold medal in men’s Olympic football at the International Stadium Yokohama.

The deciding strike, scored from a tight angle, settled the heavyweight contest after regular time ended tangled at 1-1 thanks to earlier goals from Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal and Brazilian star Matheus Cunha.

“I came with the boys to live the dream with them,” said Brazil’s 38-year-old captain Dani Alves after winning his first Olympic gold medal. “And we have managed it, after a lot of effort and sacrifice, and we are taking the biggest prize back home, back to our people.”

Belgium is hockey champion after a nerve-wracking shootout

Belgium won a nerve-wracking shootout to claim gold in the men’s Olympic hockey final here at the Tokyo 2020 (in 2021) Games.

After taking the lead in the 32nd minute through Florent van Aubel, the Belgians were pegged back as Australia levelled in the fourth quarter with a goal from Thomas Whetton to leave the scores 1-1 at full-time.

Belgium’s men’s team had never won an Olympic gold medal, with a silver medal at Rio 2016 and a bronze at Antwerp 1920 their best finishes before today.

But the 2018 world champions scored three to Australia’s two in the all-important shoot out to pick up the top honors here in Japan.

The shootout was not without its drama, with Belgian goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch stopping three Australian shots and the final Australia penalty having to be re-taken after consultation with the video referee.

However, Belgium prevailed in the end, writing their names into the history books with their first Olympic victory. Felix Denayer couldn’t hide his happiness after the match, reserving special praise for goalkeeper Vanasch. “I think I am still dreaming and overwhelmed by emotions,” he said. “But it will really come true when we get it around the neck. It is something we have been waiting for our whole lives. We dreamed about it, we believed we could achieve it, but we knew it was going to be really, really hard.

This was the second opportunity, we lost five years ago, and now we have got it. Amazing. I am super proud of this team. “In the end a shoot-out, and we have some crazy, crazy goalie who took it home for us.”

Penalty hero Vanasch praised his teammates who fought so hard to win the Olympic gold.

“It’s history again,” he said. “It was history at the World Cup, at the European Championships and now it’s history at the Olympics. I will cherish that moment for a long time. This team is a dream team.”

France held off a spirited fightback from Denmark to claim a 25-23 victory and, with that, a record third Olympic gold medal in the men’s handball in Tokyo 2020.

The match was a repeat of the Rio 2016 gold-medal match, but instead of Denmark taking the spoils, it was France that got their hands on the prized Olympic gold medal.

Denmark clawed their way back from a six-point deficit to get within one point and enforce overtime. The French built up a four-point cushion in the first half before extending it to six shortly after the break. But the determined Danes fought their way back, aided by two suspensions against French players, to get within one point.

The match came to a dramatic conclusion, with Denmark forcing a turnover with less than a minute left in the clash. But the Danes fumbled their attack, with France pouncing and landing a final goal to secure the victory.

Denmark’s Mikkel Hansen contributed nine goals to his team’s total, and in the process, he finished as the tournament’s top scorer on 61 goals. He set a new record for most goals scored in men’s handball at a single Olympic Games, surpassing the Republic of Korea’s YOON Kyung-shin, who scored 58 in Athens in 2004.

For a record 18th time

The USA closed out the track athletic events at Tokyo 2020 with a spectacular 18th win in the men’s 4x400m relay at an Olympic Games.

The team raced home 100m ahead of nearest rivals the Netherlands to record a season’s best time of 2:55.70. It was a dream ending for the American team at Tokyo 2020.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Deon Lendore had set a blistering pace from the start of the race and led for much of the first leg with the USA’s Michael Cherry and Botswana’s Isaac Makwala close behind.

By the handover USA’s Michael Norman took over at the front and the team stayed there for the rest of the race with third leg Bryce Deadmon extending the lead before teammate Rai Benjamin brought them home with a 100m gap between nearest rivals the Netherlands, who took silver and a national record in 2:57.18. They just beat Botswana on the line but they will take home bronze and an area record after finishing in 2:57.88.

“This race is very emotional for us,” said Terrence Agard from the Netherlands on winning silver. “We are a team. We ran with our heart and soul, and we left it all on the track. Really, we have an incredible team. I’m so proud of these guys. Every day we train together. I’m speechless. I’ve been through a lot, and you know, to end this Olympic campaign with a silver medal, it’s insane.”

The first seven teams, which also included Belgium, Poland, Jamaica and Italy, all landed in under three minutes. Trinidad and Tobago were in 8th place on 3:00.85.

The men’s 4x400m relay was the final event of the track athletic events at Tokyo 2020 at the Olympic Stadium.

Gentleman marathoner

Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge delivered a masterclass in running to retain the Olympic title in the men’s marathon at the games. The Kenyan runner, running in his fourth Olympics, crossed the finish line in Sapporo Odori Park in a time of two hours eight minutes and 38 seconds. The time was faster than the one he ran to win Olympic gold in Rio in 2016.

“It means a lot for me, especially at this time,” said Kipchoge on winning his second Olympic gold.

“It was really hard last year, it (Olympic Games Tokyo 2020) was postponed. I am happy for the local organizing committee who made this race happen.

“It is a sign that shows the world we are heading in the right direction – we are on the right path to a normal life.

“I can say congratulations to them that they made this Olympics happen.”

Kipchoge, who won bronze in Athens in 2004 and silver in Beijing 2008 in the 5000m, already has a full set of medals thanks to his marathon gold in Rio.

But this addition to his collection is Kenya’s fifth medal in the men’s Olympic marathon since the Games in Beijing in 2008.

With this win, Kipchoge joins a select group of runners who have successfully defended the Olympic marathon title. The others are Ethiopia’s Abebe Bikila (1960 and 1964) and East Germany’s Waldemar Cierpinski (1976 and 1980).

“I think I have fulfilled the legacy by winning the marathon for the second time, back-to-back,” Kipchoge added. “I hope now to help inspire the next generation.”

British cyclist Jason Kenny wins his seventh gold

Jason Kenny has won a seventh Olympic gold medal, storming ahead to claim the win in the men’s keirin.

The legendary cyclist from Great Britain was in a league of his own in the final, moving early to win the race by 0.763 seconds. Kenny, whose wife Laura has also tasted gold at Tokyo 2020 to add to her four golds from previous Games, won his first-ever gold medal at Beijing 2008 with a victory in the team sprint. He has gone on to amass a further six more golds in a spectacular Olympic career.

Malaysia’s Mohd Azizulhasni Awang – bronze medalist in Rio – took an impressive silver, with Harrie Lavreysen of the Netherlands winning bronze.

However, the victory belonged to Kenny, who became the first Briton to win seven Olympic golds in any sport with a special victory at the Izu Velodrome.

Kenny was over the moon with his latest Olympic victory, saying: “It is a bit of a shock I think, I really wanted to cross the finish line. Obviously, I am absolutely buzzing. Going into the final I didn’t expect anything other than a five, really. I was hoping to kind of get stuck in, and hopefully come away with some silverware. To win at the corner on my own like that is absolutely buzzing.”

And when asked about winning a historic seventh gold medal, the cyclist pointed to the hard years of training that go into becoming an Olympic champion.

“They are all special, they are all different, and they are all really hard to get. In a four or five-year gap, you look back, and it just seems so easy in your memory. You watch videos and it looks so easy, you forget the hard work that goes into it. I fought really hard for them all.”

Box, Bulgaria, USA script history

Bulgaria is now new Olympic champions after giving two flawless performances in the rhythmic gymnastics group-all around finals today at Ariake Gymnastics Centre.

Their ball routine topped the scoreboard followed up by their stunning 3 Hoops + 2 Pairs Of Clubs exercise which earned them a combined score of 92.100.

The quintet – Simona Dyankova, Stefani Kiryakova, Madlen Radukanova, Laura Tratets, Erika Zafirova – have delivered Bulgaria’s first ever-gold in rhythmic gymnastics toppling pre-favourites ROC.

ROC, who hold five consecutive Olympic gold medals between 2000 to 2016, trailed behind the new champions by 1.4 points (90.700 final score), and now settled for silver.

Meanwhile, Italy have won bronze – their third Olympic medal in rhythmic gymnastics after clinching silver at Athens 2004, and bronze at London 2012.

“It means everything. We put so much into these five years, so much work. We always believed we would be here, but it’s still so unreal,” Kiryakova said.

“It’s so unreal, we cannot believe it. I don’t know what to say. This is the happiest moment ever.”

World number ones the United States won their first Olympic gold medal in women’s indoor volleyball by beating Brazil in three straight sets – 25-21 25-20 25-14. Brazil claimed silver after missing out on the podium at their home Games at Rio 2016.

The U.S. were three-time silver medalists most recently at London 2012. At Rio 2016, they came third, beaten in the semi-finals by Serbia. The U.S. put that right this time around by beating Serbia also in three straight sets, 25-19, 25-15, 25-23 in the semi-final.

Captain Jordan Larson, who was part of that silver-winning team in 2012 and the bronze medal team five years ago, paved the way with her leadership on the court and her strong play on the attack and on defense.

Larson and middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo Gunderson, who both came back for a third Olympics after falling short in Rio de Janeiro, now have a complete medal collection following the final Olympic match of their careers.

The victory also allowed US coach Karch Kiraly to join Lang Ping of People’s Republic of China as the second person to win gold as a volleyball player and then lead a country to gold as coach. Kiraly won gold indoor as a player in 1984 and 1988. He also won gold in beach volleyball in 1996.

Serbia, meanwhile, are going home with a medal in women’s volleyball for the second straight Olympics. They beat Republic of Korea in straight sets on Sunday (8 August) to win the bronze medal in Tokyo. That comes five years after they won their first medal in the sport, a silver in Rio de Janeiro. They beat the Republic of Korea 3-0.

(The author is a senior sports journalist. He can be reached at prabhjot416@gmail.com)