Sindhu, Mirabai, women’s hockey team: Indian women athletes excel in Tokyo

For Indian fans, women athletes have been the bright sparks during the ongoing Olympic Games in Tokyo.

India opened their medal tally on Day 1 when weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won the first medal for India in the Tokyo Olympics.
India opened their medal tally on Day 1 when weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal in the 49kg category of Women's weightlifting event. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@mirabai_chanu

Today, the Indian women's hockey team etched its name in the history books by entering the semifinals for the first time, stunning three-time champions and world number 2 Australia 1-0 in an intense last-eight tie.

India scored the victory goal after Gurjit Kaur scored from a penalty corner in the 22nd minute of the game. The India men's hockey team also entered the semifinals yesterday after a gap of 49 years.

Sindhu beat China's He Bing Jiao 21-13, 21-15 to add a second Olympic medal to the silver she had won in the 2016 Rio Games.
Sindhu beat China's He Bing Jiao 21-13, 21-15 to add a second Olympic medal to the silver she had won in the 2016 Rio Games. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@Tokyo2020hi

India's ace shuttler PV Sindhu yesterday defeated China's He Bing Jiao in straight games to win her second consecutive Olympic medal, the first Indian woman to do so.

Sindhu beat China's He Bing Jiao 21-13, 21-15 to add a second Olympic medal to the silver she had won in the 2016 Rio Games.

the Indian women's hockey team etched its name in the history books by entering the semifinals for the first time, stunning three-time champions and world number 2 Australia 1-0
The Indian women's hockey team etched its name in the history books by entering the semifinals for the first time, stunning three-time champions and world number 2 Australia 1-0. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@Tokyo2020

India opened their medal tally at the Tokyo Olympics on Day 1 when Saikhom Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal in the 49kg category of Women's weightlifting event. 

She also became the first Indian weightlifter to win a silver medal in the Olympics and ended India's 21-year wait for an Olympic medal in the sport. Karnam Malleswari had won a bronze for India at the Sydney Games in 2000.

Chanu lifted a total of 202 kg (87kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk) during her four successful attempts across the competition.

China's Zhihui Hou bagged gold with a total of 210kg and created a new Olympic Record while Indonesia's Windy Cantika Aisah grabbed bronze with a total of 194kg.