Emerging Sports Players Capable of Winning Medals at the Tokyo Olympics 2020

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PV Sindhu just won India the first-ever gold medal in the Badminton World Championships and the nation is celebrating. However, she is not alone there on the top of the winner’s podium. Athletes from the entire spectrum of sports have been making their mark in international sports, bringing laurels to India.

Did you know that India recently won a badminton gold in para-athletes’ world championship too? Wrestling, Shooting, Javelin Throw, Tennis, you name it. New sportspersons are emerging from every walk of games and preparing themselves for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which are now less than 1 year away.

Many of these players have already demonstrated their forte in world championships and continental multi-sport events like Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. Let’s have a look at these emerging stars who have the capability of bringing wins to the country.

1. Manasi Joshi

Manasi Joshi is another person who won a gold medal for India at the World Para-Badminton Championship this year. A para-badminton player, Manasi is currently World No. 2. She also won a Bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Para Games held in Jakarta.

2. Sumit Nagal

Sumit Nagal is an emerging Indian tennis player who was recently in the news after he defeated Roger Federer in the first set of his US Open match. Sumit also won the 2015 Wimbledon boys’ doubles title along with Vietnamese Lý Hoàng Nam.

3. Bajrang Punia

Most of us know Bajrang Punia as he has already brought so many awards to the nation. He has been a gold medallist in Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Asain Championships among many other and is the current World No. 1 in 65kg category. He was recently awarded the Padma Shri, the 4th highest civilian award of India.

4. Hima Das

The sensational Hima Das just won 5 gold medals in 400m race within 3 weeks in different Grands Prix across Europe. She is also the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal in a track event at the IAAF World U20 Championships.

5. Dipa Karmakar

One of the finest artistic gymnasts India has ever produced, Dipa Karmakar fell short of a medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics by just 1 position. Champion of Produnova, Dipa Karmakar has been awarded Padma Shri and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award by the Indian government.

6. Anish Bhanwala

This 17-year-old shooter from Karnal, Haryana, came into limelight after he won a gold medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games last year. Anish has already represented India at a number of international platforms.

7. Manu Bhaker

In 2018, Manu became the youngest Indian to win a gold medal at the ISSF World Cup. She has also won gold medals at Commonwealth Games and Youth Olympic Games.

8. Jemimah Rodrigues

Jemimah Rodrigues is an Indian cricketer who was awarded the Jagmohan Dalmiya Award by the BCCI in 2018. Apart from getting awards from ICC, Jemimah is also a part of the Under-17 Maharashtra Hockey Team.

9. Saurabh Chaudhary

This teen from Meerut became the youngest Indian gold medallist at the Asian Games in 2018. Saurabh is the only Indian shooter to win a gold medal in ISSF World Championship, ISSF World Cup, Youth Olympic Games, Asian Games and Asian Air Gun Championship.

10. Amit Panghal

An Asian Games gold medallist and a Commonwealth Games silver medallist, Amit Panghal is a Light Flyweight category Boxer from Rohtak in Haryana. Currently, he is also serving in the Indian Army as a Junior Commissioned Officer.

11. Manika Batra

An amazing table tennis player, Manika Batra is reigniting India’s hopes in the arena of this game. Her winning spree is continuing since she won 4 medals, including 2 gold, at the 2018 Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast.

12. Neeraj Chopra

Neeraj Chopra is an emerging Indian Javelin Throw player who has his eyes all set on Tokyo 2020. He won gold medals at both Asain Games and Commonwealth Games in 2018.

With so many talented people participating in the Indian contingent, we can definitely hope for a large number of medals at the Tokyo Olympics next year.