New Delhi: India’s Olympic champions returned home to hero’s welcome today after their stellar performance at Tokyo Olympics. The nation in awe of these sportspersons welcomed its heroes with open arms.
At the IGI airport, people and sports lovers have gathered in large numbers to give grand welcome. Later in the evening, they were felicitated at Ashoka Hotel for their commendable performance at Olympics.
India finished the quadrennial event with their highest medal count 1 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze. Earlier, India had won 6 medals in the 2012 London Olympics.
At the Ashoka hotel, a gala ceremony was organised where all the medallists were honoured and felicitated for their unprecedented performance at Tokyo Olympics.
#WATCH | This gold medal is not only mine but also belongs to India. I didn’t eat&sleep well after winning gold medal… Competition was very tough at #Olympics. After qualification, I realised this is the best opportunity of my life& I’ll not lose it: Gold medalist Neeraj Chopra pic.twitter.com/NzQVFqvjLx
— ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2021
7 Olympic medalists, namely Neeraj Chopra, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Mirabai Chanu, PV Sindhu, Bajrang Punia, Lovlina Borgohain, and the men’s national Hockey team were felicitated by Union sports minister Anurag Thakur.
Among those present on the occasion also included Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju; MoS for Youth Affairs and Sports Nisith Pramanik.
Glimpses from the felicitation ceremony of #Tokyo2020 Olympic Games ??Medalists in New Delhi today.
Union Minister @ianuragthakur
Union Minister @KirenRijiju
MoS @NisithPramanik pic.twitter.com/82QSqESDMg— Office of Mr. Anurag Thakur (@Anurag_Office) August 9, 2021
Sports Minister, Anurag Thakur said, “Tokyo 2020 was an Olympic Games of many firsts for India. The success of Team India at the Olympics is a reflection of how New India desires and aspires to dominate the world…even in sports. The Olympic Games showed us that with self-discipline and dedication we can be champions.”
Watch here:
Here’s the list of the players who won the medals for India:
- Neeraj Chopra (gold)
- Mirabai Chanu (silver)
- Bajrang Punia (bronze)
- PV Sindhu (bronze)
- Lovlina Borgohain (bronze)
- Men’s hockey team (bronze)
- Ravi Kumar Dahiya (silver)
LIVE UPDATES:
#WATCH | Delhi: Women’s hockey team cut a cake and sing the National Anthem as Hockey India felicitates them upon their return to the country.
The team qualified for #Olympics semi-finals for the first time and finished fourth at #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/TH3BTQHFML
— ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2021
#WATCH | Hockey India hosted a cake-cutting ceremony for the #TokyoOlympics bronze medalist men’s hockey team at Delhi’s Ashoka hotel.
The men’s team will later be felicitated with the other #Tokyo2020 medalists at the ceremony. pic.twitter.com/4S6a0pljX9
— ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2021
#WATCH | Women’s hockey team arrives at Hotel Ashoka in Delhi. They will be felicitated by Hockey India shortly. #Olympics pic.twitter.com/7Pc8IwBQGn
— ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2021
#WATCH | Delhi: Silver medalist wrestler Ravi Dahiya arrives at the hotel to attend the felicitation ceremony for the #TokyoOlympics medal winners. pic.twitter.com/f6XXblO72g
— ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2021
#WATCH | Delhi: Bronze medalist wrestler Bajrang Punia arrives at the hotel where a felicitation ceremony for the #TokyoOlympics medal winners will be held shortly. pic.twitter.com/jSQTsBaiKe
— ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2021
I thank everyone. It feels great to be back home. My next target is to win the gold medal in 2024 Paris Olympics: Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist boxer Lovlina Borgohain, in Delhi pic.twitter.com/G53cHvoiDO
— ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2021
#WATCH | #Olympics Gold medalist, javelin thrower #NeerajChopra received by a huge crowd of people at Delhi Airport. pic.twitter.com/PEhVCoNt60
— ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2021
#TokyoOlympics gold medalist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra arrives at Delhi airport from Japan; welcomed by BJP MP Tejasvi Surya and others
(Photo source: Tejasvi Surya's Twitter account) pic.twitter.com/pkyRyYEuGR
— ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2021
Welcome home champions!
?? Athletics Team is back from the #Tokyo2020 Olympics. Lets welcome them with joy and excitement and #Cheer4India.
Watch the video and send in your best wishes in the comments below ??@PMOIndia @ianuragthakur @NisithPramanik @afiindia @WeAreTeamIndia pic.twitter.com/9wJrvdzjPC
— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) August 9, 2021
?? Athletics team is back from #Tokyo2020
Let's welcome them by sharing our #Cheer4India messages and encourage them for their future competitions. #Olympics #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/UOubtFBas2
— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) August 9, 2021