This year's Olympics is already different from its other editions. Meanwhile, the Anti-sex beds act as a catalyst in the flame. The organisers already took a historic decision in banning the entry of the fans into the stadium. Subsequently, this will go down as another interesting decision in history.
The covid scare is still playing a major role in the Tokyo Olympics and the organisers are trying to make the event as Covid-safe as possible. To ensure that athletes maintain social distancing and avoid unnecessary physical contact, organisers have created so-called anti-sex beds.
According to a report in Sport Bible, organisers took this step to discourage any unnecessary social mixing or close interaction, including sexual intercourse.
The beds will break with any sudden movements and are also recyclable. So it will be clear who has been obeying the rules and who hasn't. The Olympic authorities also asked the athletes not to use the customary condoms that are provided ahead of the games. However, they requested the athletes to take those condoms home as Olympic game souvenirs.
Wherever Neeraj Chopra goes, he does not return empty-handed. Neeraj maintained the same trend in the Paris Olympics 2024 and got his name registered in history.
Wherever Neeraj Chopra goes, he does not return empty-handed. This series started in 2016 when this rising star made a record for the first time at the Under-20 World Athletics Championships. From that day itself, we got a glimpse of the future to come, in which many records were to be made and broken one after the other. On Thursday night of 8 August, Neeraj maintained the same trend in the Paris Olympics 2024 and got his name registered in history. So, it's time we take a look at every Neeraj Chopra records that he has made in his tremendous career so far.
First Indian to win Olympic medal in athletics: At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Neeraj Chopra produced a historic performance in the men's javelin throw event. Neeraj won the gold medal in the final with a throw of 87.58m, giving India its first Olympic medal in athletics. With this win, Neeraj Chopra also became the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal in a track and field event at the Olympics.
First Indian to win silver at World Athletics Championships: Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won a historic silver medal at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon. He recorded a throw of 88.13m in his fourth attempt to claim the second spot. Chopra thus is the first Indian to win a silver medal at the World Athletics Championships and only the second medallist from the country after Anju Bobby George in 2003.
First Indian track and field athlete to win world championship: Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. With this win, the then 18-year-old Neeraj became the first Indian track and field athlete to become a world champion in any event and any age level.
First Indian World Record holder in track & field: Neeraj Chopra Threw 86.48m at the junior championships in Poland to win the title. With this, he set the new under-20 world record, beating the 84.69m mark established by the previous holder, Latvia's Zigismunds Sirmais. Neeraj’s 86.48m attempt at Bydgoszcz still stands as both the U20 world record as well as the U20 Asian record in the javelin throw.
Indian national javelin throw record holder: Neeraj Chopra’s best attempt to date came at the Stockholm Diamond League 2022 in Sweden on June 30, 2022, where he managed his personal best of 89.94m to establish the new national record.
First Indian to win javelin throw gold at Asian Games: Neeraj Chopra is the first Indian javelin thrower to win a gold medal at the Asian Games. Before him, Gurtej Singh was the only men’s javelin thrower from the country to win a medal – bronze at the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games. Neeraj threw 88.06m to claim the 2018 Asian Games title.
First Indian to win a Diamond League meet: Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian to win a Diamond League meet after he topped the field in Lausanne in 2022. With a depleted field that had world champion Anderson Peters missing, the Indian comfortably led the charts with an 89.08m throw, in his first attempt.
First Indian to become Diamond League champion: Neeraj Chopra is the first Indian athlete in history to clinch the Diamond League trophy, by winning the Zurich Diamond League 2022 Final. The Indian ace recorded a best throw of 88.44m to beat Tokyo 2020 silver medallist and 2016 champion Jakub Vadlejch to the title.
First Indian to become world champion: Neeraj Chopra became India's first world champion after he clinched the gold medal in the men's javelin throw final at the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest with an effort of 88.17m. It was Neeraj Chopra's second straight medal at the world championships after his silver at Oregon 2022.
India at Olympics: India's Olympic medal tally by every edition
India's history in the Olympic Games is 124 years old. From Paris 1900 to Tokyo 2020, India at Olympics has been very special. Here is India's Olympic medal tally by every edition.
India's history in the Olympic Games is 124 years old. From Paris 1900 to Paris 2024, India at Olympics has been very special. Tokyo Olympics 2020 was the most successful year for India and the country had the second best performance in the Paris Olympics 2024.
In the Olympic history spanning over 100 years, India has won a total of 41 medals, which include 10 gold, 10 silver and 21 bronze. Hockey has been the most fruitful sport for India in terms of medals. Interestingly, India has won 8 out of 10 gold medals only in men's hockey. Apart from this, India has succeeded in winning medals in boxing, wrestling, tennis, badminton, shooting, athletics and weightlifting. Here is India's Olympic medal tally by every edition.
India at Olympics
1900 Paris Olympics | 2 Medals
Norman Pritchard - Silver - Men's 200m hurdles
Norman Pritchard - Silver - Men's 200m sprint
India first participated in the Paris Olympics in 1900, with Norman Pritchard winning 2 silver medals in athletics (men's 200 m and men's 200 m hurdles). He became India's first medal winner in the Olympics. With this, India became the first Asian country to win an Olympic medal. Pritchard was the first Indian (British-Indian) athlete to win more than one Olympic medal for the country.
1928 Amsterdam Olympics | 1 Medal
India men's hockey team - Gold - Field hockey
India won their first-ever gold medal at the Olympics in men's hockey. Dhyan Chand led a dominant team to gold, kicking off a streak of six consecutive gold medals.
1932 Los Angeles Olympics | 1 Medal
India men's hockey team - Gold - Field hockey
India secured their biggest-ever win (24-1 vs USA) en route to their second consecutive gold in men's hockey.
1936 Berlin Olympics | 1 Medal
India men's hockey team - Gold - Field hockey
Dhyan Chand made it a hat-trick of gold medals for India, defeating Germany in the men's hockey final.
1948 London Olympics | 1 Medal
India men's hockey team - Gold - Field hockey
India won their first-ever Olympic medal as an independent nation, with no surprise as to its origin. A new generation of hockey players led by Balbir Singh Sr. continued India's dominance.
1952 Helsinki Olympics | 2 Medals
India men's hockey team - Gold - Field hockey
KD Jadhav - Bronze - Men's wrestling (bantamweight)
India got its first individual Olympic medal in the 1952 Olympics when Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav created history in wrestling. Initially he was not selected in the team and later on the request of the Maharaja of Patiala, he got a place in the team. Jadhav, who won the bronze medal, could not get a chance to play in the Olympics again and he started working in Maharashtra Police.
The Indian men's hockey team made it five in a row, with Balbir Singh Sr. increasing his legend with a superb performance in the final.
1956 Melbourne Olympics | 1 Medal
India men's hockey team - Gold - Field hockey
As far as team sports are concerned, the Indian men's hockey team had set a record by winning 6 consecutive gold medals in the Olympics between 1928 and 1956. This is an Olympic feat not bettered in a team event apart from USA's basketball teams.
1960 Rome Olympics | Medals
India men's hockey team - Silver - Field hockey
India reached double digits in their Olympic medal tally but it wasn't a gold in men's hockey as expected, with a Balbir Singh Sr. - less India losing to Pakistan in the final.
1964 Tokyo Olympics | Medals
India men's hockey team - Gold - Field hockey
The Indian men's hockey team faced Pakistan in the final for a third consecutive time but won gold this time.
1968 Mexico City Olympics | 1 Medals
India men's hockey team - Bronze - Field hockey
The Indian men's hockey team failed to reach the final for the first time in the last eight Olympics, losing in the semifinal to Australia and then beating West Germany to win bronze.
India made it 10 consecutive medals for the men's hockey team, as well as the nation, which went medal-less in 1976. A loss to Pakistan in the semifinal was followed by a win over Netherlands to win bronze.
1980 Moscow Olympics | 1 Medal
India men's hockey team - Gold - Field hockey
The Indian men's hockey team returned to the summit, after a catastrophic 1976 Olympics and won gold. It would be Indian hockey's last medal until the bronze in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
1996 Atlanta Olympics | 1 Medal
Leander Paes - Bronze - Men's singles, Tennis
Leander Paes did the work of getting the country, which was very enthusiastic about hockey, interested in tennis. In the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Paes made it to the semi-finals and there he had to face defeat against Andre Agassi. The bronze medal won by Paes is India's first and only Olympic medal which has come from tennis. This medal came after returning empty-handed from 3 consecutive Olympics.
Karnam Malleswari is the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal. She won a bronze medal in weightlifting in the 2000 Olympics. In this event, she lifted a weight of 240 kg.
Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore is the first Indian to win a silver medal in shooting. He is also the first Indian to win an individual silver medal. He achieved this feat in 2004.
2008 Beijing Olympics | 3 Medals
Abhinav Bindra - Gold - Men's 10m air rifle shooting
Sushil Kumar - Bronze - Men's wrestling (freestyle 66kg)
Abhinav Bindra won the gold medal in shooting in the 2008 Olympics held in Beijing. He became the first player to win an individual Olympic gold for India.
2012 London Olympics | 6 Medals
Gagan Narang - Bronze - Men's 10m air rifle shooting
Yogeshwar Dutt - Bronze - Men's wrestling (freestyle 60kg)
Sushil Kumar - Silver - Men's wrestling (freestyle 66kg)
India doubled their best-ever tally at the Olympics, with six medals taking their overall tally to 26. Saina Nehwal won India's first-ever badminton medal, with five-time world champion Mary Kom becoming the first Indian woman to win a boxing medal (only because this was the first edition of women's boxing at the Olympics). Sushil Kumar also became the first Indian to win two individual Olympic medals.
2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics | 2 Medals
Sakshi Malik - Bronze - Women's wrestling (58kg)
PV Sindhu - Silver - Women's singles, Badminton
India were swiftly brought back down to earth after the success of London, with only two medals in Brazil. PV Sindhu won her first Olympic medal, while Sakshi Malik became the first (and till date, only) Indian woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal.
Ravi Kumar Dahiya - Silver - Men's wrestling (freestyle 57kg)
Bajrang Punia - Bronze - Men's wrestling (freestyle 65kg)
Neeraj Chopra - Gold - Men's javelin throw
The Covid-affected Tokyo Olympics proved to be India's most successful ever, with seven medals taking India's overall tally to 35 medals. PV Sindhu became the first Indian woman to win multiple Olympic medals, while the Indian men's hockey team ended their 41-year medal drought. Neeraj Chopra won the nation's first-ever gold medal in Athletics (and only the second individual gold ever by an Indian).
Bronze - Men’s Hockey Team - 2024 Paris - Men’s field hockey
Bronze - Aman Sehrawat - 2024 Paris - Wrestling men’s 57kg freestyle
The Paris Olympics 2024 proved to be India's second joint most successful ever, with six medals taking India's overall tally to 41 medals. Manu Bhaker brought two bronze medals home, one in individual event and one in mixed event with Sarabjot Singh in the 10m air pistol. Swapnil Kusale also won bronze in shooting, winning in the Men's 50m rifle 3 positions.
The Indian Men's Hockey Team also won bronze and held their postiion at the top in terms of winning the most medals at the hockey event at the Olympics. Neeraj Chopra couldn't bring gold home this time but clinched a silver medal to extend India's medal tally. India were missing out on the Wrestling and Aman Sehrawat filled that gap by winning the fifth bronze medal for India at the Paris Olympics.
Lovlina Borgohain clinches silver in Czech Grand Prix 2024
Lovlina's silver medal in the Grand Prix 2024 boxing tournament is proof of her hard work. Her aim is to win her second Olympic medal in the Paris Games starting from July 26.
Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist boxer Lovlina Borgohain won a silver medal in the women's 75kg category at the Czech Grand Prix 2024 in Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic.
In the round-robin tournament, Lovlina Borgohain won against Chantelle Reid of England but lost to Cindy Ngamba and Li Qian. Borgohain lost her final match against the reigning Asian Games champion late on Saturday night by a margin of 2-3.
Qian is a two-time Olympic medalist and has three World Championship medals, including one gold to her name.
Four boxers were included in the women's 75 kg category in this tournament organized under the aegis of World Boxing. Borgohain, Refugee Boxing Team's Cindy Ngamba, Li Qian, and England's Chantelle Reid - and it is being held in a round-robin format.
Borgohain managed only one win in the tournament
Lovlina Borgohain managed only one win in the tournament, losing two of her three matches. This boxer from Assam had won her first match against England's Chantelle Reid by a split decision in a tough match, but later she had to face defeat from Cindy Ngamba and Li Qian.
Lovlina gunning for her second Olympic medal
The 26-year-old boxer, who is the only Indian to participate in the tournament, is gunning for her second Olympic medal as she is one of the six Indian boxers to qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024.
The Indian boxing team for Paris 2024 is a mix of experienced Olympians and rising stars. In the women's category, Borgohain is joined by two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen (50 kg), Preeti Pawar (54 kg), and Jasmine Lamboria (57 kg). The men's team includes Amit Panghal (51 kg), and Nishant Dev (71 kg).
According to an analysis by Japan's audit board, last year's pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics cost 20 percent higher than the final number reported by the organizing committee. A report released late Wednesday found the cost of the Games at 1.7 trillion yen ($12.9 billion), higher than the 1.42 trillion yen reported by Tokyo 2020 earlier this year.
The audit board said the organizers improperly failed to account for certain Olympic-related government expenses. Which include anti-doping measures, athlete training, and Japanese food at the athlete village, and the Olympic stadium. The 2013 bid for the Tokyo Games estimated that the event would cost just 734 billion yen. But the bill gradually increased with the postponement due to the pandemic.
Government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters after asking about the cost on Thursday, "The government takes the points raised seriously and will respond appropriately."
The pandemic caused the Games to postpone a year later than planned. The first Olympics was postponed in peacetime and spectators were banned from almost all events. These were held under strict COVID-19 countermeasures.
However, Japanese prosecutors are currently investigating allegations of bid-rigging involving sponsorship deals at the Tokyo Olympics. Meanwhile, a former executive of a major clothing company appeared in court on Thursday. They bribed a Tokyo 2020 official and offered money to secure his firm's sponsorship rights.
At the same time, a corruption scandal has cast a shadow over the northern city of Sapporo's bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics. Officials there this week announced they would stop holding campaign events for the bid. And they would now hold a nationwide poll to gauge support.
Women in sports is a special series by SportzPoint to honour all of those women who showed the world that you can achieve anything. This is the third episode of the series. Check the first and second episodes also.
All of these women have sacrificed many things to conquer the world. They have fought against gender barriers, inequalities and discrimination. Moreover, the man-minded world was very sacred to recognize and salute the spirits of those women.
Women just can not play after being a mother- this myth has always been there in the industry. However, when you are passionate about the game, motherhood just makes them stronger and stronger. In this episode, we will talk about those women who just became better after being a mother.
Female Athletes and Motherhood
Image Copyright - Sportz Point
If you ask any woman, they would say that being a mother is the most beautiful moment in their life. But, that does not mean that they can not juggle between being a mother and a professional athlete. However, it is their body that goes under enormous pressure while being pregnant and post-pregnancy as well. Though studies show now that female athletes are having longer sporting careers than men now.
So, if the world supports more moms to be back in their sporting arena, it will become more revolutionary in the sports world. Here's is the top 7 female athlete who just rocked the sports world being a mom-
Serena Williams is the greatest tennis player of the open era if we talk about achievements. She has won everything there could be won on the tennis court. The 23 Singles Grand Slam Winner, was eight weeks pregnant when she won the Australian Open in 2017.
She revealed her pregnancy with a baby bump post on Snapchat. Serena also confirmed that she got to know about her pregnancy only a few days before the matches. This incident challenged the thoughts of women not being strong enough for sports.
Serena never thought of ending her illustrated career by just being a mother. However, she challenged herself and proved everyone wrong. She proved that being a mother only gives you more strength.
However, Serena had some serious complications while childbirth but managed to be back on the court to get to the magical 24th Grand Slam Title. The magic is that Serena played 4 Grand Slam Finals within 10 months of her postpartum.
WNBA All-Star Skylar Diggins-Smith is a four-time WNBA All-Star. Skylar is one of the most illustrated players in the history of Women's Basketball.
Skylar missed the 2019 season due to pregnancy. But, she pulled off something great before resting the season out. During the 2018 season, she was already pregnant. Although she managed to be the third player in WNBA history to average at least 17 points and six assists per game.
She did not tell her pregnancy news to anybody as she wanted to continue with the season. After resting for six months following her postpartum, she came back with a bang. Skylar scored a team-high 19 points for the U.S. women's national team. Not only that she also grabbed the award for the WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week Award also.
So, her fights prove how women in sports should dedicate themselves just to make it more equal and even for the next generation.
India is a very hard place to be a mother and professional athlete. Its social imbalance and inequality in pay structure make it even harder financially to sustain a career being a mother.
However, the mother of three children and a record sixth-time World Champion boxer proved everyone wrong with her dedication and fighting spirit. Kom has won medals in one of the first seven World Championships. She is also the only boxer to win eight World Championship medals.
Mary Kom became a mother to twin boys in 2007. In 2013, she became a mother for the third time. But she kept on going through every tough situation to keep her boxing career going.
Mary Kom went on to win her Olympic medal in 2012 after becoming a mother. She won a bronze in the 51kg freestyle category. Kom is regarded as the "Magnificent Mary" due to her passion, fight and dedication.
The Indian boxer bowed out to Ingrit Valencia in the pre-quarterfinals of the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
The only female track and field athlete to win six Olympic Gold Medals did not have it easy in her life. Allyson Felix is the 2012 Olympic gold medal winner and a three-time world champion.
The start athlete from America had a tough time during her pregnancy. Felix went through preeclampsia and an emergency C-section to deliver her daughter. In November 2018 she was blessed with her baby girl.
In her tough times, Felix accused Nike that they wanted her back on track as soon as possible post-pregnancy. The rumour was also that Nike asked for a guarantee from Felix that her performance would not go down. However, Nike declined those rumours.
Felix is currently aiming for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as it would be her fifth consecutive Olympics.
"Everyone sees the glory moments, but they don't see what happens behind the scenes."
Shelly is another mom-athlete who became a mother in #DreamMaternity year in 2019. The mom-athlete from Jamaica has 6 Olympic medals including 2 Gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
She is always been fast. But, she is been inspirational to millions of women out there as well. After having her appendix removed in April 2009, Fraser became World 100m champion.
The "pocket-rocket" from Jamaica kept running fast even after childbirth. She became the world 100m champion only after two years of postpartum.
Nia Ali is another mom-athlete who did great after becoming a mother. In 2015 to Nia gave birth to her son Titus. Post that she came back and won the gold medal in World Championship within a year.
Nia continued her success after becoming a mother. She went on to win the silver medal at the 2016 Olympics for the 100-meter hurdles.
The victory lap with her son after winning the Gold medal at the 2016 world championship is a moment to saviour for everyone who supports women in sports.
Kara Goucher, an American long-distance runner is always been vocal about raising financial security for mom-athletes.
While she was pregnant with her son, in 2010, Goucher worked to be a public figure for Nike. However, as he had given birth to her child, Nike refused to pay her anymore leading to her financial crisis.
Nike said, 'We don't pay you to tell your story. We pay you to run, and you're not running. You have to get back into racing.' - According to Goucher.
She ran in the Boston Marathon while her son was getting operated on his neck in the hospital. Also, as she was hurried back into running, she suffered hip pain that will stay with her forever.
The women in sports are still fighting for their existence. Gender barriers, financial crisis and many other issues wrapped them around. We hope our series reaches the ones who want to make their dream true as a woman or female athlete.
Follow Us
/sportzpoint/media/media_files/F52gjUJA5gKCb3SW7A1D.jpeg)
/sportzpoint/media/post_attachments/bc322537cf3276982f66c05f9466b8263fdc71407d0f1c30c426cc187b782969.jpg)
/sportzpoint/media/post_attachments/7f31bc6fa46769e97253d63e7c7b628070247418827d688f04d25a015794938e.jpg)
/sportzpoint/media/post_attachments/47c8866fbd328c6881235c57d4432d3b104f405e8deb004d4fbd983c4e8e8490.jpg)
/sportzpoint/media/post_attachments/531e3cb699454363c11531d3eab801cc4ffbb45775329716f68c85db55e6030b.jpeg)
/sportzpoint/media/post_attachments/c93765a0d1edd51a65f8c71b5af5cedf0d7d0eb8a20b51c8ded6221597e87990.jpeg)
/sportzpoint/media/post_attachments/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Shelly-Ann-Fraser-Prycce.jpg)
/sportzpoint/media/post_attachments/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ali2-10-19.jpg)
