Tokyo Olympics full schedule: India’s campaign starts with archery

Ace archer Deepika Kumari will be the first Indian sportsperson in action at the Tokyo Olympics next year, according to the new competition schedule released by the Organising Committee on Friday.

For India, the Women’s Archery Individual Ranking Round will be the first event at the rescheduled Summer Games. Archery will get under way from 5:30 AM IST (9 AM local time) at the Yumenoshima Park Archery Field.

The 2020 Olympics, which were deferred to next year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will officially start on July 23 and end on August 8.

Deepika Kumari, till now, is the sole Indian female archer to have earned a quota place for Tokyo but more may join before the qualification window ends.

Later that day at 9:30 AM IST, Deepika’s husband Atanu Das, along with fellow Indian archers Tarundeep Rai and Pravin Jadhav will be part of the Men’s Archery Individual Ranking Round.

While archery continues, India’s medal hopes will brighten once boxing, shooting, hockey, badminton, tennis, table tennis, and others start from July 24. 

India won just two medals in Rio 2016 and six at the 2012 Games in London. The Indian contingent is expecting medals in double digits this time with several athletes, especially in shooting and boxing, attaining world-level standards.

Here’s a sport-by-sport guide of what Indian fans can look forward to at the Tokyo Games.

Archery

India already has four archery representatives who have already earned a quota place for the Games.

With Deepika Kumari being the only female archer of the group, India can field a team in mixed team and men’s team events besides the individual categories.

In the mixed team archery event on July 24, Indian fans may witness a married couple – Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das – stand shoulder to shoulder in the quest for an Olympic medal for the country.

However, Indian female archers still have the opportunity to secure two more places for the Games at the Archery World Cup scheduled in Paris next June. If even one makes the cut, India can field a women’s team at the Games as well.

Archery events at the Tokyo Olympics begin on July 23 and conclude on July 31.

Shooting

With as many as 15 Indian shooters already having secured quota places, India is all set to send its largest-ever shooting contingent to Tokyo.

The shooting competition kicks off with the 10m Women’s Air Rifle and 10m Men’s Air Pistol events on July 24. Medals rounds for these events will be conducted on the same day.

In ace women’s rifle shooters Apurvi Chandela and Anjum Moudgil, and men’s 10m Air Pistol contenders Abhishek Verma and Saurabh Chaudhary, India have a high probability rate to clinch medals in both events.

The likes of Tejaswini Sawant, Divyansh Singh Panwar, Deepak Kumar, Manu Bhaker, Yashaswini Singh Deswal and other shooters will bolster India’s medal chances in other categories

Shooting events at the Tokyo Olympics begin July 24 and conclude on August 2.

Boxing

As many as nine Indian boxers have already qualified for the Games.

In his third Olympics, Vikas Krishan will step into the ring on the opening day of the boxing event on July 24.

The following day features an array of mouth-watering bouts for Indian boxing fans with London 2012 bronze medallist Mary Kom, India’s first super heavyweight boxer to qualify for the Olympics Satish Kumar and women’s Welterweight hope Lovlina Borgohain in action.

Amit Panghal, probably India’s brightest medal prospect in men’s boxing, takes to the Kokugikan Arena ring on July 26 for his debut Olympic bout.

Boxing events at the Tokyo Olympics begin on July 24 and conclude on August 8.

Hockey

Both the men’s and women’s Indian hockey teams start their Tokyo Olympics campaign from July 24.

While the men start against New Zealand at 6:30 AM IST, the Indian eves begin their campaign against The Netherlands later in the day at 3 PM IST.

The men’s hockey event at the Tokyo Olympics begin on July 24 and conclude on August 5. The women’s hockey event, meanwhile, starts on the same day and will run till August 6.

Athletics

Javelin throw

In Tokyo, India’s biggest medal hopes in track and field lie with javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra. Fellow Indian javelin thrower Shivpal Singh has also qualified for the event and will be eyeing a medal too.

Neeraj and Shivpal will start with the qualifying rounds on August 4. The medal round is scheduled for August 7.

Race Walking

KT Irfan will be representing India in the 20km Men’s Race Walking event and his event will start at 1 PM IST on August 5.

In the 20km Women’s Race Walking event, Bhawna Jat has already secured a place and will take to the Sapporo Odori Park in Hokkaido - the same venue as the men’s event - from 1 PM IST on August 6.

3000m Individual Steeplechase

Avinash Sable will be India’s representative in the 3000m individual steeplechase. Round 1 of his event will kick off at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo from 5:30 AM IST on July 30.

Wrestling

Along with shooting, wrestling has been one of India’s most productive sporting disciplines at the Olympics, accounting for as many as five medals.

While India is yet to finalize its wrestling contingent for Tokyo, Indian fans can expect at least four contenders at next year’s Games. 

Vinesh Phogat is expected to grapple in the women’s 53kg category after having won the quota place at the 2019 World Championships. For men’s wrestling, Bajrang Punia, Ravi Kumar Dahiya and Deepak Punia are likely to participate in the 65kg, 57kg and 86kg, respectively.

Wrestling events at the Tokyo Olympics begin August 1 and conclude on August 7.

Indian fans, however, may have to wait till August 4 to see the country’s grapplers in action. Both Ravi Kumar and Deepak Punia start their campaigns on the day. Vinesh Phogat’s event is scheduled the next day while Bajrang is expected to play on August 6.

Equestrianism

In what will be India’s first participation in 20 years, Fouaad Mirza will display his riding skills in the individual eventing category. Mirza’s event will start from July 30, 5 AM IST.

India is expected to be represented in tennis, badminton, table tennis.

Badminton

With Olympic medallists PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal in women’s category and former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth and the promising B Sai Praneeth highlighting the men’s roster, India should have a good team in Tokyo. 

Badminton events at the Tokyo Olympics begin on July 24 and conclude on August 2.

Tennis

Having just narrowly missed out on the bronze medal at Rio 2016, Indian fans may see Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna rekindle their mixed doubles partnership to have another go at an Olympic medal.

Tennis events at the Tokyo Olympics begin on July 24 and conclude on August 1.

Table Tennis

India also has some very capable table tennis players in Manika Batra, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, Achanta Sharath Kamal and Harmeet Desai, who have the possibility of making it to the Games.

Table tennis events at the Tokyo Olympics begin on July 24 and conclude on August 6

There’s still a lot of time left for the extended Olympics qualification window to close and we may see several additions to the list.

For a full rundown of the new Tokyo 2020 schedule click here.