Events in 2021 where Indians can qualify for Tokyo Olympics

After missing competitive activities for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Indian sportspersons will resume their quest to compete at Tokyo 2020 at the various Olympic qualification events scheduled in the coming months.

While some of the superstar athletes like Bajrang Punia, Neeraj Chopra, MC Mary Kom, Vinesh Phogat and the hockey teams have already sealed their places, others will look to punch their passes with some top-quality performances building up to the Games.

Here’s a look at how Indian athletes can pave their way to Tokyo 2020.

Archery: Final qualification tournament

While the Indian men’s recurve team and Deepika Kumari (in the women’s individual event) won quota places for the Olympics a year ago, the Indian women’s recurve team will look to join the contingent with a fine show at the final qualification tournament in Paris.

The Paris event, which will be held between June 18-21, offers three quota places in the team event. The likes of Bombayla Devi, Madhu Vedwan and Deepika Kumari will be keen to ensure India fields the maximum number of athletes in archery for the Tokyo Games this year.

Athletics: Domestic meets and Asian Athletics Championships

So far, India’s track and field contingent for the Tokyo Olympics comprises Neeraj Chopra, Shivpal Singh (both javelin throw), Avinash Sable (3000m steeplechase), KT Irfan, Bhawna Jat (both race walking) and the 4x400m mixed relay team.

But with a number of domestic and international meets lined up in the coming months, the Indian athletes will be keen to qualify at the earliest and shift their focus to the Olympics.

The domestic season will begin with the first Indian Grand Prix on February 12 with the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) ensuring all the top meets for the year are held before the qualification window for the Games shut.

Apart from the four Grand Prix events, the Federation Cup will be held from March 10-13 while the Inter-State Championships will begin on June 25 and wrap up on June 29, the last day for qualifying for the Olympics.

Meanwhile, the Asian Athletics Championships is slated for May 20-23, but it remains to be seen if the event will go ahead as planned with Hangzhou, China being the host city.

Badminton: 15 events on the BWF calendar

Unlike many of the Olympic disciplines, badminton opts for a world ranking-based qualification process for the quadrennial extravaganza. 

A total of 38 shuttlers make the singles event while 16 pairs are allowed for a doubles event.

In the singles, while top 16 on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) world ranking charts are assured of participation (maximum of two athletes per nation), the rest are accommodated based on their ranking, with just one athlete allowed per nation.