Tokyo Olympics 2021

"We waited an extra year for this moment (after Tokyo 2020 Games were postponed due to the pandemic)," Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet told a news conference at the Main Press Centre of the Tokyo Olympics late on Friday. Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo will receive the Olympic flag from International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach during the Tokyo 2020 Games closing ceremony.

The team comprising Muhammed Anas, Noah Nirmal Tom, Arokia Rajiv and Amoj Jacob finished fourth in the second heat at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium with a timing of 3:00.25. Italy (2:58.91) and Netherlands (2:59.06), who ran in the first heat, took the slots for the 'fastest losers' combined from both heats to reach the final.

Shah Rukh, who played the role of hockey coach Kabir Khan in the 2007 film, took to Twitter after India's heart-breaking 4-3 loss to Great Britain in the bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics, saying that the team has all the reasons to hold their spirits high. "Heartbreak!!! But all reasons to hold our heads high. Well played Indian Women's Hockey Team. You all inspired everyone in India. That itself is a victory," he tweeted.

The 23-year-old Aditi ground out a 3-under 68 in the third round of the women's golf competition at Kasumigaseki Country Club to be in sole second place on 12-under 201. She was three shots behind leader and world No. 1, Nelly Korda of the United States. Aditi, whose given name in Sanskrit means "Boundless", lived up to her calling by continuing to produce some phenomenal golf to be on the cusp of an historic medal for India.

Bajrang, who had survived a scare in the pre-quarterfinals against Akmataliev Ernazar of Kyrgyzstan and had outplayed Ghiasi Cheka Morteza of Iran in the semifinals, went behind 1-4 on points in the first period and then came under repeated attacks from the Azerbaijani in the second to lose by a big margin. Bajrang did fight back in the second period by claiming four points but the Azerbaijani grappler proved too strong with late attacks.

Punia will be up against Azerbaijan's Haji Aliyev -- the 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medallist in 57kg and a three-time world champion in 61kg -- in the semifinal. Aliyev defeated Daulet Niyazkebov of Kazakhstan to enter the last-four. Earlier on Friday, Punia had survived a scare to overcome Kyrgyzstan's Ernazar Akmataliev in the opening Round-of-16 bout to set up a quarterfinal clash against Ghiasi.

The Indians played their hearts out, storming back after trailing 0-2 to take the lead but could not maintain the tempo as Great Britain scored the winner in the fourth quarter to claim the bronze medal, their third medal in three Olympic Games starting from London 2012.

The team that finished eighth in Rio de Janeiro Olympics after losing to Belgium in the quarter-finals, has received Rs 50 crore as part of Annual Calendar for Training and Competitions' (ACTC) funding. Besides this, the team received Rs 16.80 lakh under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), the Sports Authority of India informed on Thursday.

Sandeep, who also took part in the Rio Olympics in 2016 and was placed 35th, could not replicate his recent form nor come close to his national record as he struggled with the conditions. The national record stands in name of KT Irfan at 1:20.21 while Sandeep has clocked 1:20.16, which is yet to be ratified. Rahul Rohilla was placed 47th with a timing of 1:32.06 while KT Irfan finished 51st in position.

On Thursday, the 23-year-old Aditi returned a card of five-under 66 at the Kasumigaseki Country Club. Added with her first-round effort of 67, now has an Aditi has an aggregate score of nine-under 133 and is sharing the second spot with Danish duo Koerstz Madsen Nanna (69,64) and Emily Kristine Pedersen (67, 66) with Sagstrom Madelene a stroke behind at 134.