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11,500 athletes will compete for 339 medals across 33 sports at 42 venues in Tokyo between July 23 and August 8,. India, too, has a strong representation with a 121-member team that includes several medal hopefuls.

In this issue

07-08-202121 STORIES

Odisha has sanctioned Rs244 crore that will focus on building a state-of-the-art aquatics complex, a tennis centre, an indoor athletics stadium and other advanced facilities as part of the expansion and upgrade of the infrastructure at the Kalinga Stadium.

Odisha: Fostering future legacies for sport and state

Given the rising popularity of sports in Odisha, the state’s infrastructure development module, designed to host state-, national- and international-l

Sydney McLaughlin smashed countrywoman Dalilah Muhammad’s world record at the US Olympic trials on June 27 to set up a mouthwatering clash between the two in Tokyo.

How will athletics look at the Olympics in the post-Usain Bolt era?

Olympics 2020: No single athlete has emerged as an iconic and compelling to watch as Usain Bolt since his retirement in 2017. However, Tokyo may just

Cathy Freeman became her country’s second athlete to win the 400m gold, which, incidentally, also turned out to be Australia’s all-time 100th gold at the Olympic Games.

Olympic legends: Cathy Freeman – Born to Run

Australia's Cathy Freeman, an Aboriginal who was 400m world champion and silver medallist at Atlanta 1996, dressed in a luminescent white bodysuit, li

“I was close many times. I knew it would happen eventually. I am grateful to god for giving me this moment, in Brazil against Brazil. I think he was saving this moment for me,” Messi said after the triumph.

Lionel Messi finds his salvation at Copa America

Argentina’s years of stuttering from one final failure to another were finally eradicated after an edgy 1-0 win over nemesis Brazil at the Maracana St

Seoul marked the confirmation of Kristin Otto as the top swimmer in her section.

Olympic legends: Kristin Otto – The Most Decorated

Never before had a female athlete won more than four gold medals at a single Games. At Seoul 1988, Kristin Otto took part in six events and won all of

Ian Thorpe was crowned world champion in his pet event, the 400m freestyle, in Perth at 15 to become the youngest-ever male champion.

Olympic legends: Ian Thorpe – The Thorpedo

At 22, Ian Thorpe was the most titled Australian in Olympics history and also the greatest Olympian his country had ever produced. Then he retired fro

Mark Spitz's claim to fame was not by virtue of the dental school certificate he carried, but as a stealth bomber in the pool and a record that would stand for a good 36 years.

Olympic legends: Mark Spitz – Superlative Seven

Mark Spitz won the maximum number of gold medals in a single Games until then – seven in all and each with a world record to boot at Munich 1972.

Nadia Comaneci goes through the balance bar routine that won her a perfect 10 score at the 1980 Moscow Summer Games.

Olympic legends: Nadia Comaneci – The Perfect 10

Montreal 1976 will always be known for the perfect 10 turned in by the 14-year-old Romanian Nadia Comaneci in the team part of the gymnastics competit

U.S. gymnast Simone Biles, one of the most recognised Olympians of the current generation, arrives for the Tokyo 2020 Games. The sporting world hopes the Games go on smoothly during the pandemic.

A year late, the Tokyo Olympic Games are here

Seldom would so many have prayed for an event rather than their favourite teams or players. Tokyo will tell us about the power of prayer.

Suresh Menon

Jessie Owens powers his way to victory in the 200m at the 1936 Olympics Games in Berlin

Olympic Legends: Jesse Owens – The First Superstar

Jesse Owens' haul of four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Games has often been portrayed as a big boost to the fight against racism as they took place

Simone Biles is her biggest competition. The reigning world and Olympic champion rewrote history in May when she became the first woman ever to complete the Yurchenko double pike.

Olympics: Top 10 athletes to look out for in Tokyo

The Olympics is a different beast altogether. While some athletes succumb to the pressure and demands of the showpiece event, others rise to the occas

Shyam Vasudevan

Shyam Vasudevan

Mary Kom will deservedly be the joint flagbearer of the Indian contingent at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics.

Tokyo Olympics: Mary Kom goes for gold in boxing

London bronze medallist Mary Kom, India's flag-bearer at the opening ceremony, begins her quest for an Olympic gold medal with her women’s flyweight b

Michael Phelps wins gold in the 100m freestyle at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Olympic legends: Michael Phelps – The Phenom

The “Baltimore Bullet” Michael Phelps, diagnosed with ADHD as a child, ended his career with 28 medals – 23 gold – from five Olympic Games that he owe

One of the fittest members of the 1983 team, Yashpal Sharma was a gritty batsman who could be relied upon to play when we had lost early wickets and willing to do anything.

On The Write Line

Sunil Gavaskar: The 1983 World Cup team has lost a family member

It’s not been the best of months for the Indian sporting world, but hopefully there will be joyous news coming out of Tokyo to make up for the sad new

Sunil Gavaskar

The Indian women’s team, trained by Sjoerd Marijne (left), has improved steadily with every outing. Skipper Rani Rampal is an exceptional talent and as good as anybody in world hockey.

MM Somaya: Indian hockey has hit a purple patch

The world’s best coaches and scientific training have given Indian hockey a refreshingly new identity, Moscow Olympics gold medallist MM Somaya writes

(Clockwise from left) Anjali Bhagwat; Saurabh Chaudhary and Manu Bhaker; Elavenil Valarivan and Divyansh Singh Panwar; and Anjum Moudgil.

Anjali Bhagwat on India's shooting at Tokyo Games: Perfect teamwork, superior planning

I am confident about the performances of our shooters, but let us not make any predictions about medals. No focusing on the outcome; being in the mome

What’s amazing is that Novak Djokovic, at 34, believes his best tennis is yet to come.

Novak Djokovic goes for the Golden Slam at Tokyo Olympics

A “Golden Slam,” a feat even rarer and achieved only by Steffi Graf in 1988, beckons the splendid Serb if he captures a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympi

Paul Fein

(Clockwise from left) Aparna Popat, P. V. Sindhu, B. Sai Praneeth, and the team of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.

Aparna Popat: India's Olympic medal chances in badminton seem as bright as ever

The credentials and preparations of India’s badminton players – B. Sai Praneeth, P. V. Sindhu and the pairing of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Sh

“On my game and approach at the Tokyo Olympics, I can say you will be watching new weapons for sure. I have improved a few techniques and skills.”

PV Sindhu: Hope to be back from Tokyo with gold!

I cannot say if the Tokyo Olympics is the best chance for me to win a gold medal or not; I am just hoping for the best.

Usain Bolt wins the gold medal in the 100 metre final at 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Olympic legends: Usain Bolt – The Greatest

Athletics was never the same after the Jamaican arrived, and he changed it for the better.

Carl Lewis of the Untied States competes in the Men's Long Jump during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Olympic legends: Carl Lewis – The King

At Los Angeles 1984, Carl Lewis had gold pickings in the 100m 200m, long jump and the 400m relay – a feat similar to what Jesse Owens had done exactly

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