As the year draws to a close, Rediff's Senior Contributor Roshmila Bhattacharya takes a look at the hits and misses, the highs and lows, the newsmakers and the dealbreakers in alphabetical order.
'The gold medal (in Tokyo) has motivated me in life to do even better. Performing well and ending up on podium will be my target in the World Championship (in July)'.
Javelin thrower Annu Rani and four-time Commonwealth Games medallist discus thrower Seema Antil Punia also have been recommended for the Arjuna Award.
Neeraj Chopra began his quest for a World Championships gold medal with a false start in the men's javelin throw final in Eugen, Oregon, on Saturday. India's other contestant in the final Rohit Yadav had a throw a 77.95 metres.
TJ, Animesh Kujur enter TOPS developmental group; Pranati named for TAGG
Check out how India's athletes fared on Day 13, Thursday, August 8.
Sumariwalla also said that the AFI is expecting at least 35 track and field athletes to take part in the Paris Olympics.
The list of Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra's admirers has grown with reigning World champion Johannes Vetter predicting a bright future for the Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
Yogesh Kathuniya won yet another silver medal in the men's F56 discus throw event at the World Para Athletics Championships.
'My approach has been to do my best on the day according to the situation'
Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra on Monday hailed Devendra Jhajharia after the javelin thrower won a stupendous third Paralympic medal in Tokyo.
Buoyed by a strong start to the season, Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra is primed to clinch his maiden Diamond League podium finish in his first appearance in four years in the prestigious one-day meet in Stockholm on Thursday.
Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra shattered his own national record by clearing a distance of 87.43m en route finishing fourth in a star-studded field in the season opening Diamond League series meeting, in Doha, on Friday.
Starc was at the venue to watch is wife Alyssa Healy lead out her UP Warriorz but unfortunately, Wong's hat-trick put paid to any semblance of hope that the Warriorz may have harboured.
'Didn't realise was flanked by Chinese and Pakistani athletes on victory podium'
'There was no pressure and I was taking it (Olympics) just like any other event. It was like I have played against these athletes before and there's no reason to worry. I was able to focus on my performance. That has helped me win gold.'
Both of them are banking on "conducive" conditions to ensure a strong performance.
Paralympic gold-winners Avani Lekhara, Sumit Antil, Pramod Bhagat, Krishna Nagar, Manish Narwal were also given the Khel Ratna at a dazzling awards ceremony on Saturday.
Just being able to compete again is bigger relief for Neeraj Chopra than booking an Olympic berth, and the star javelin thrower says his comeback after a lengthy injury lay-off has given him hope that the hard times are well and truly over. Chopra qualified for the Tokyo Olympics with a throw of 87.86m at the ACNE League meeting at Potchefstroom on Tuesday, after missing the entire 2019 season following a surgery on his elbow.
Javelin thrower Sachin Yadav of Uttar Pradesh, 18-year-old high jumper Pooja Singh of Haryana and long distance runner Sawan Barwal of Himachal Pradesh rewrote National Games records and won gold medals on the concluding day of athletics competition. Yadav sent his spear to a Games-record distance of 84.39m in his fifth attempt, while Pooja cleared 1.84m to defend the women's high jump gold. Barwal won the men's 5000m in a time of 13 minutes and 45.93 seconds, bettering the earlier Games record.
Along with Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, Kishore Jena, Rohit Yadav and D P Manu have also qualified for the August 19-27 World Championships in Budapest.
Abhinav Bindra cautioned the Paris-bound contingent against dwelling on past glories or future expectations
D P Manu, who finished sixth at the World Championships last year, is yet to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
Mandaviya, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, and Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha unveiled the ceremonial outfit, playing kits, performance shoes and travel gear for the Indian team.
Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian javelin thrower to win an Asian Games gold medal as he shattered his own national record by clearing a distance of 88.06m, in Jakarta, on Monday.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni was handed the invite by the RSS's Dhananjay Singh and Karmveer Singh.
Neeraj ran in fast, did the crossover. The javelin flew out of his hands and he did not look towards the sector. He just knew he had bettered the first attempt. The moment the javelin left his hand, he knew he had done it.
Kenya's Amos Serem won the race in 8:06.90 seconds, while Morrocos's Soufiane El Bakkali (8:08.60s) and Kenya's Amin Jhinaoui Mohammed (8:09.68s) were second and third respectively.
In the Diamond League Final, he will face the world's best in the event, including Olympic champion Thomas Roehler of Germany and last year's winner, Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic.
Led by Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, India will seek to showcase its ascendency as a sporting power at the Asian Games, which opens formally on Saturday after an unprecedented one-year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra is considering participating in the World Championships later this year after it emerged that he has qualified for the showpiece event.
'For him what's important is relationships, his role, and, of course, the script.' Rediff celebrates Shah Rukh Khan's 60th birthday on November 2 with a special series that introduces us to the man behind the superstar.
Neeraj Chopra, who won India's maiden athletic Gold on his Olympic debut, was awarded a cash prize of Rs 1 Crore by the BCCI
Disappointed but not disheartened to miss out on a Rio Olympic berth, sensational javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, on Wednesday, said he is looking to put in the hard yards to earn India a medal at 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
'The Paris Olympics has once again blessed the Indian sports marketing landscape with fresh faces and promises.' 'Expect at least one biopic.'
India's Avinash Sable qualified for the men's 3000m Steeplechase final, finishing fifth in his heat with a time of 8:15.43 seconds.
BCCI wants to adopt Olympic sports; Govt mulling approval to OCI athletes
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.
No Indian athlete since Independence has won multiple medals at a single Games.
The Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar is one of the best facilities in the country and it has hosted several national championships and the Asian Championships in 2017 during which it had earned praise from the current World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.
