Get set Tokyo!
Are you ready for the Olympics? Watch the video to find out more about the latest Olympic Games being held in Tokyo, Japan.
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Quiz whizz -July 24, 2021
Test your knowledge of the Olympic Games by answering these questions.
The Olympics are underway in Tokyo, Japan. How much do you know about the greatest sporting event in the world? Find out with this interactive quiz.
Green supreme
How many of these trees commonly found in India have you spotted in your area?
From the easily recognisable Banyan tree to the ubiquitous Neem tree, a wide variety of trees thrive in India. You might have come across many of them in your neighbourhood, but you might not always know what they are called.
Here is an interesting task for you. Fill in the grid with the names of some common Indian trees.
Now, scroll through these slides and take a look at what these trees look like. Do you recognise any of them?
Photos: Wikimedia Commons
Olympic memories
These incredible stories of India’s Olympic stars will always be told and retold to show how inspiring they are. Read on for more.
The Tokyo Olympic Games are underway, and what better time to relive some of India’s glorious moments of Olympic glory from the past? Before you delve into the details, take this step-by-step interactive task.
Great going! Now, read about each athlete and get inspired.
Acing it
Leander Paes, Atlanta 1996
After an incredibly long wait of 44 years, Leander Paes gave India its individual medal by winning a bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The earlier one was by wrestler K.D. Jadhav in 1952. Leander faced Andre Agassi in the semifinal and, due to the strength of the latter’s backhand, Leander ruptured a few tendons in his right wrist. So it was put in a cast and he had to recover before the medal play-off. On match day, he was in unbearable pain and it took a great deal of physical and mental strength and a lot of aggressive tennis to pull off a historic win and a place on the podium.
Wizard of hockey
Dhyan Chand — 1928, 1932 and 1936
The Indian hockey team won eight gold medals — in 1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964 and 1980. Instrumental in the first three of these wins was Dhyan Chand, regarded as one of the greatest hockey players in history. Apart from his extraordinary goalscoring, he also captained the side at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. In the final against Germany, he lost a tooth in a collision with the opposing goalkeeper. He also reportedly removed his stockings and shoes so that he could run faster.
Super shuttler
Saina Nehwal, London 2012
India’s first Olympic medal in badminton came in the 2012 London Games. Saina Nehwal had already made waves by reaching the quarterfinals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. But the bronze didn’t come easy. A week before the Games, Saina went down with viral fever. But being the fighter that she is, she recovered and fought her way through the tournament to a place on the podium.
Shooting star
Abhinav Bindra, Beijing 2008
Abhinav Bindra had missed a medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, so his preparation for the next round in Beijing was meticulous and careful. This paid off, as the 25-year-old surpassed the defending champion and won the gold. But it was not all smooth sailing. Just minutes before the final, he realised that his gun’s sight (aiming device) had been altered. Though he panicked initially, he stepped up and calmly scripted his place in sporting history.
Photos: The Hindu archives, Wikimedia Commons
A touch of tech
Japan loves its gadgets and, rest assured, the Tokyo Olympics will see a lot of cool gizmos and technology making their way into the events.
The medals awarded will have a quintessentially Japanese feature — recycling. They have been made using old cell phones and other electronics sourced from the general public. Designed by designer Junichi Kawanishi, who does signage and product design for public and commercial facilities in Japan. A distinguishing feature this year is the addition of one, two, or three silicon convex lines in the ribbons to separate the winners. This is the first time that 100% recycled material has been used.
(Photo: AP)
The preference for recycling doesn’t end with the medals. The beds in the Athlete Villages are made of sturdy cardboard, which will be recycled into paper or plastic products once the Olympics end. Quite a few stadium renovations have incorporated wood to be more environmentally friendly.
(Photo: AFP)
Humanoid robots developed by Toyota will be used on the field to fetch hammers/javelins during events and to help with the management of events. The Tokyo Games will also be the first Olympics to use facial recognition technology to increase security around all venues.
(Photo: REUTERS)
Crunchy bites
It’s filling, nourishing and finger-licking good. Yes, we’re talking about the Caesar salad. Find out how to make it.
A traditional Caesar has nothing to do with Julius Caesar. It’s something to eat and contains romaine lettuce, croutons, garlic, lemon juice, eggs, parmesan, Worcestershire sauce or anchovies, and salt and pepper. So if you are craving something crunchy, cheesy, and salty, then jump right in and play this game. You’ll also learn to whip up this yumminess in a bowl.
Start to finish
As you gear up for the Olympics, why not watch some real-to-reel life stories?
To get into the spirit of the Olympic games, why not watch an Olympic-themed film with the family? Here are a few suggestions of some classic films that are also extremely inspiring.
Still Standing
Every four years, we hear of new records being set at the Olympic Games. But did you know that there are some that are unbroken? Play this memory game to find out.
Every time the Olympics Games comes around, a new bunch of records are set by athletes and sportspeople. But did you know that there are some that have been standing for quite some time? Play this memory game to find out records that have not been broken.
In the spirit of the sport
Goodwill, friendship, and competition… this is what I stand for. Click here to learn more about me.
I am 125 years old and the biggest sporting competition in the world. Who am I?
Photos: AP, The Hindu Archives, Gamma, AFP
A podium finish
Who are the Indian stars likely to bring home an Olympic medal from Tokyo? Find out…
When the Olympic Games begin at Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, India will have a record 120 athletes competing in various disciplines. Of these, who are the ones most likely to bring home a medal. Take a look at some of the strong contenders:
Weightlifting: Mirabai Chanu
Competing in the 49kg category, Mirabai, Khel Ratna awardee, recently broke the world record by lifting 119 kg in the clean-and-jerk section at the Asian Championships last year, where she finished with a bronze. She also has gold medals in the World Championship (2017) and the 2018 Commonwealth Games and will hope to follow Karnam Malleshwari in making Olympic history for India.
Archery: Deepika Kumari
The sole female archer to make the cut, Deepika is coming off a hat-trick of gold medals at the Archery World Cup in Paris, last month. Her recent success also saw her make it to the top of the rankings for the first time, since Dola Banerjee, in 2012. If her recent form is anything to go by, Deepika is a strong medal contender in Tokyo.
Athletics: Neeraj Chopra
After missing the cut for the 2016 Rio Olympics, the then 18-year-old Neeraj Chopra bounced back with a gold medal in javelin at the IAAF World under-20 athletics championship in Poland, with a world record of 86.48m, followed by gold medals at the 2018 Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. A career threatening elbow injury kept him out of action for most of 2019 but he returned to seal his spot in early 2020. In the run up to the Summer Games, Chopra bettered his own national record in javelin with an 88.07m throw at the Indian Grand Prix 3 in Patiala earlier this year.
Badminton: P.V. Sindhu
Silver medallist at the Rio Olympics P.V. Sindhu will want to do one better this time, since her biggest competitor — Spain’s Carolina Marin — has withdrawn due to injury. She won gold at the World Championships in 2019, but has struck a rough patch since. With the pandemic affecting prep time, Sindhu’s form has been a cause for concern but she is a proven big match player.
Boxing: Amit Panghal and Mary Kom
Amit Panghal, the world no.1 in the men’s 52kg category, is one of India’s most promising medal prospects. In the World Boxing Championships in 2019, he beat Kazakhstan’s Saken Bibossinov by split decision (3-2) in the flyweight semi-final, the first male Indian boxer to breach that barrier and win a silver medal. He also has gold medals in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and 2020 Boxing World Cup.
One of India’s flagbearers this year, Mary Kom has 19 international medals to her name, including an Olympic bronze in the 2012 London Games. She comes into the Tokyo Games with a silver medal at the Asian Boxing Championship, and bronze at the Boxam International Boxing tournament.
Hockey: Men’s team
No one understands pressure quite like the India men’s hockey team. Despite the haul of eight golds, one silver and two bronzes, the team failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics and finished 12th in London and eighth in Rio. Ranked number four in the world, India beat Netherlands twice and drew 1-1 against world number one Belgium and Australia in the FIH Pro League. The last time the Olympics were held in Japan, India went home with the gold. Manpreet Singh’s boys will hope for the same this year.
Wrestling: Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat
Of the seven wrestlers, the brightest medal prospects are these two. Bajrang secured his place in the Tokyo Olympics, despite losing his semifinal bout against local favourite Daulet Niyazbekov at the World Wrestling Championships in Nur Sultan, in 2019.
Vinesh Phogat, competing in the 53 kg category, qualified for the 2020 Olympics after defeating World No. 1 Sarah Hildebrandt, in the 2019 World Wrestling Championships. A 2018 Asian Games gold medallist and a two-time Commonwealth Games medallist, this is Vinesh’s second Olympic stint. Most recently, the 26-year-old bagged yet another gold medal at the Poland Open.
Now that you’ve read about them, find the names in the grid below.
Photos: The Hindu Archives, PTI and AP