Tokyo Olympics: Indian athletes who can still qualify for the Games

More than 100 Indian athletes have already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics so far, with the contingent likely to surpass 117-mark and make it India’s strongest ever at the Games.

However, with less than 50 days left for the showpiece event to kick-start, the coming weeks could prove vital for Indian athletes aiming to qualify.

In fact, most of the athletes should have booked their tickets by now, but the second Covid-19 wave has played spoilsport. Most of them have missed qualifying events owing to the travel restrictions imposed by other countries on Indian visitors.

However, the situation has improved since then, with Tokyo-aspirants gearing up to give their best shot for a place at the quadrennial event.

Let us have a look at the athletes who can still qualify for the Tokyo Olympics:

Archery

Archery is expected to be India’s golden ticket at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, with the nation set to field its strongest ever contingent at the Games.

So far, the men’s archery team, comprising Atanu Das, Tarundeep Rai and Pravin Jadhav, has already gained qualification. Apart from which, all of the above-mentioned archers have also secured berths in the men's individual events. Meanwhile, Deepika Kumari has qualified for the women's individual event.

However, the Indian women’s archery team, comprising of Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat and Komalika Bari, are yet to make the cut. With a few months left for the Olympics to kick-start, it was expected that qualification would be on the cards.

But, the recent travel restrictions, owing to the second Covid-19 wave in India have put the plans in jeopardy.

The pandemic curbs forced India to miss the World Cup Stage 2, in Switzerland, which was a Tokyo Olympics qualifying event. The Swiss government has denied issuing visas for visiting Indian athletes.

But the eves will get their last shot at qualification during World Cup Stage 3 in Paris, which begins on June 21. The three-member squad has already reached the host city and is set to serve a 10-day quarantine period before preparing for the competition.

Swimming

Sajan Prakash (in pic) and Srihari Nataraj needs to clock the A-mark to qualify for the Olympics

Indian swimmers have never entered the Olympics by attaining the A-qualification mark and it has not been an exception this time. Srihari Nataraj came tantalizingly close to breaching the A-mark with a timing of 54.07 seconds in the men’s 100m backstroke event. He fell short by 0.22 seconds at the Uzbekistan Open Championship in Tashkent earlier this year.

Srihari Nataraj and Sajan Prakash have achieved the B-qualification mark, but that won’t secure them an Olympic berth. However, they still have a couple of competitions to better their records and earn tickets to the mega-event before the qualification window freezes on June 27.

Currently, the duo is warming up to participate in the Belgrade Tour in Serbia that is scheduled on June 19 and June 20, followed by the Settecolli International Trophy in Rome, Italy, from June 25-27. Sajan Prakash has already represented India at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Athletics

The Indian men's 4*400m relay team is yet to qualify for the Tokyo event

The mixed 4*400m relay team has already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, but there are other track events that India are targeting with less than 50 days left for the Olympics to get underway.

Unfortunately, the men’s and women’s relay teams missed out on the world relays in Poland, back in May, owing to the travel restrictions imposed by the Netherlands government.

However, the women’s relay team is gearing up for the Qosanov Memorial meet in Almaty, Kazakhstan, scheduled to be held on June 19 and 20. The competition is an Olympic qualifying event and is also a part of the World Athletics Continental tour.

Six sprinters, including the likes of Hima Das, Dutee Chand and national champion S Dhanalakshmi, have been named in the squad.

Meanwhile, mid-distance sprinter Muhammad Anas is also aiming for an Olympic-spot in his pet 400m category, while Dutee Chand will eye the same in the women’s 100m and 200m events.

The 60th Senior National Athletics Championships, which is set to be held in Patiala from June 25-29, will serve as the last qualifying event for Tokyo aspirants.

Javelin thrower Annu Rani, who set a new national record at the Federation Cup earlier this year, will pounce on the remaining opportunities to secure her Olympic berth.

Meanwhile, shotputter and 2018 Asian Games champion Tajinder Singh Toor is walking down the same path. The qualification window for the Tokyo Olympics ends on June 29.

Judo

Sushila Devi Likmabam has almost secured her qualification for the Tokyo Olympics

Even though Sushila Devi Likmabam has qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, a final confirmation is still awaited. Jasleen Saini, who competes in the 66kg event, can also qualify for the mega-event.

The JFI (Judo Federation of India) has sent two Judokas – Jasleen Saini (66kg) and Likmabam Sushila Devi - to the World Judo Championships, to be held from June 6-13.

Due to the pandemic situation, the governing body was against the idea of sending a big contingent for the event. Instead, the JFI sent the two of their best athletes who mathematically stand a chance to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.

As far as the probabilities are concerned, Jasleen can qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, even though Sushila will fly to Tokyo irrespective of her performance at the upcoming event. The duo will be accompanied by their coach Jiwan Sharma.

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Special mentions:

Golf

Each country is entitled to send a total of two golfers each in the men’s and women’s section. The top 15 ranked golfers will automatically qualify for the main event, with a maximum of two per event per country.

Following which, 60 golfers will be filled up based on the Olympic Golf ranking, provided the countries do not already have two golfers from a category in the top-15 list.

As per the existing rules, Aditi Ashok is on the course for qualification in the women’s category, while Uday Mane is likely to make the cut in the men’s event.

Tennis

Even though Sania Mirza is ranked 157th in the women’s doubles category, there’s a loophole which allows her to sneak into the Olympics. The Indian was ranked no.9 when she took a lay-off from the sport.

As per the WTA rules, players taking a leave for injuries or pregnancy can apply for a special ranking where the player would be selected on the basis of her previous rank.

The rule was introduced by the WTA during the lockdown, by virtue of which Sania is likely to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, along with her partner Ankita Raina.

Weightlifting

Even though Saikhom Mirabai Chanu has qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in the women’s 49kg by virtue of her rankings, an official confirmation is yet to be received from the IWF (International Weightlifting Federation).