The War of the Tiranga is a metaphor for a new battle of ideas in national politics, observes Shekhar Gupta.

'It is indeed a commendable feat that out of 18 participants from the Indian Army in the Commonwealth Games squad, eight sportspersons have earned medals for India,' the army stated.

Indian athletes' performance on Day 9 of the Commonwealth Games.

An intimidating Vinesh Phogat pounced on her rivals to complete a hat-trick of Commonwealth Games gold medals while Ravi Dahiya too went unchallenged as India's wrestlers wrapped up their campaign with a rich haul of 12 medals, in Birmingham on Saturday.

A summary of Indian athletes showing on Friday, Day 8 of the Commonwealth Games.

Such was Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang's dominance in the 65kg competition that he won three of his four bouts inside first rounds.

The CWG will be important not only for Vinesh and Sakshi but also for Bajrang Punia, who has been a bit iffy about his attacking prowess

Deepak usually stuns his rivals with his speed and agility but Dauletbekov was up for the task and smartly foiled the Indian's leg attacks by maintaining distance.

Ravi, the Tokyo Olympics silver medallist, conceded early lead in all his bouts, but bounced back in tremendous fashion to outsmart his rivals in the men's freestyle event

An important factor in India's stupendous success in 2021 was the way the government opened its coffers to support athletes.

To skip Senior Nationals.

Star Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Friday said she does not have much time to grieve over her Tokyo Games debacle and is gearing up for future challenges while young Anshu Malik suggested that a sports psychologist should be attached with the team to help them overcome nerves at big stage like the Olympics.

The ceremony is set in a 'Para Airport' -- a symbol of diversity and inclusion -- and began with a video that depicted the strength of para-athletes.

Vinesh Phogat, who lost in the quarter-finals of the women's 53-kg freestyle event at the Tokyo Olympics, penned a letter about emotional breakdowns, mental well-being and how being denied her physio affected her performance at the Games.

Tokyo should remain the benchmark and source of inspiration till at least Paris 2024. In the shorter run, India's preparations for the Asian and Commonwealth Games next year must begin based on lessons learnt now, asserts Raj Kishore Mishra, former joint secretary at the sports ministry.

Neeraj Chopra's soaring javelin did not just earn India their first Olympic gold in athletics on Saturday, it also meant that the contingent will return from Tokyo with seven medals, their biggest Games haul ever.

As the curtains come down at the Tokyo Olympics, here's a glance at the medallists and those who came within touching distance of glory.

'Team India's participation in the Olympics couldn't have ended on a sweeter note'

A summary of the country's athletes showing at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday, August 7.

The 27-year-old wrestler, who made his Olympics debut at the ongoing Games, outwitted Kazakhstan's Daulet Niyazbekov in the play-off round.

A look at India's schedule at the Tokyo Olympics on August 7, 2021.

A summary of the country's athletes' showing at the Tokyo Games on Friday, August 6.

Wrestler Deepak Punia's foreign coach Murad Gaidarov was expelled from the Tokyo Olympics on Friday for assaulting the referee who officiated the bronze medal play-off bout which the Indian lost to San Marino's Myles Nazim Amine.

Capturing the drama at the 2020 Olympics

Bajrang Punia's perennial leg-defence weakness came to haunt him at the big stage as he lost the men's freestyle 65kg semi-final to three-time world champion Haji Aliev at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday.

Scenes from the 2020 Olympics.

Scenes from the 2020 Olympics.

Indian wrestler Ravi Dahiya says will strive to improve and complete the unfinished task of winning a wrestling gold at the 2024 Paris Games.

A summary of the country's athletes' showing at the Tokyo Games on Thursday.

A look at India's schedule at the Tokyo Olympics on August 6, 2021.

Scenes from the 2020 Olympics.

Vanesa, the reigning European champion, executed her strategy perfectly as Vinesh could not find a way to wriggle out of Vanesa's headlocks.

Ravi Dahiya will be aiming for a historic gold medal in the men's wrestling freestyle 57kg event at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday.

After Dahiya scripted one of the greatest comebacks on the mat, pictures revealed the deep bite mark on his right bicep.

A summary of the country's athletes performed at the Tokyo Games on Wednesday, August 4.

Ravi Dahiya became only the second Indian wrestler to qualify for the final at the Olympic Games, when he sensationally turned around the 57kg semi-final bout by pinning Kazakhstan's Nurislam Sanayev, in Tokyo.

Capturing the drama on Day 12 at the Tokyo Olympics.

A summary of the country's athletes' showing at the Tokyo Games on Tuesday, August 3.

Check out the complete schedule of Indian athletes at the Tokyo Olympics

Punia is the second seed in men's 65kg category in Tokyo, the one on whose shoulders rest India's hopes of winning the country's first Olympic gold in wrestling.