New Delhi: Indian athletes reached home on Monday after performing brilliantly in the Tokyo Olympics. Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra had a special eye, who won the country its first Olympic gold medal in athletics. At the same time, other players including boxer Lovlina Borgohain, wrestler Bajrang Punia, men’s and women’s hockey teams were present at the felicitation ceremony of India’s Olympic medalists in Delhi.
India’s Olympic stars were honored in Delhi by Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and former Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju among other celebrities. Athletes from the Indian contingent returned home from the Tokyo Olympics on Monday and were accorded a grand welcome. On this occasion, Neeraj Chopra said, ‘This gold medal is not the only mine, but it also belongs to the whole of India. Ever since I won the medal. I am walking around keeping it in my pocket.
In the Tokyo Olympics, Neeraj won the gold medal while women’s boxer Lovlina Borgohain and wrestler Bajrang Punia, besides shuttler PV Sindhu won bronze. However, only a few of India’s Olympic medalists attended the felicitation ceremony. Men’s and women’s hockey teams were also honored. The men’s team achieved the distinction of winning a medal in hockey after 41 years. The women’s team finished fourth. Both the hockey teams were awarded.
On this occasion, the silver medalist of the Tokyo Olympics Ravi Kumar Dahiya was also present. He said, ‘Thank you to all those who stood by me. At the same time, the captain of the men’s hockey team Manpreet Singh said, ‘Every Olympian has made the country proud. All of them should be encouraged.’ The hockey team was honored by former Sports Minister Rijiju.
At the same time, Lovlina of Assam said, ‘I will continue to work hard so that I can win more medals for the country. I had thought of winning gold in the Olympics but could not succeed.’ Lovlina won the bronze medal in the welterweight category. Wrestler Bajrang Punia also won the bronze. He said, ‘Seeing this kind of respect and love, I feel like I have won another medal.’
