Official Newsletter of the Olympic Council of Asia
Edition 54 - September 2021
OLYMPIC SPECIAL ASIA AT Every Asian medal Golden Gallery Highlights from 5 zones NOC Social Media
Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremony July 23, 2021, Olympic Stadium
Tennis ace Naomi Osaka lights the Olympic Cauldron (Photo: Getty Images)
The world is watching Tokyo 2020. (Getty Images)
Fireworks explode over the Olympic Stadium (Getty Images)
Acrobatic carpenters hard at work. (Getty Images)
Colourful building blocks are put in place. (Getty Images)
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Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremony July 23, 2021, Olympic Stadium
A general view inside the Olympic Stadium as Naomi Osaka lights the Olympic Cauldron (Photo: Getty Images)
Intricate movements with orange rope and dance (Getty Images)
Dancers perform in front of the Olympic Rings (Photo: Getty Images) Page 03
Contents
Inside Sporting Asia Edition 54 – September 2021
20
2–3 Opening Ceremony, July 23, 2021 4 Inside Sporting Asia Olympic Games Special 5 OCA President’s Message 6–7 138th IOC Session
25
8–9 Tokyo 2020 Overview and Facts Box 10 – 11 The key sports behind medal march, final rankings 12 – 16 Highlights from the OCA’s five zones 12 East Asia
30
13 South East Asia 14 South Asia 15 Central Asia 16 West Asia
31
17 Qatari high jumper Barshim provides magical moment 18 – 19 Asia’s Golden Gallery 20 – 29 NOC by NOC, Gold, Silver and Bronze
34
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30 – 33 NOC Social Media 34 – 35 Closing Ceremony, August 8, 2021 36 OCA Sports Diary, Sponsors’ Club
President’s Message TOKYO OLYMPICS AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS Sporting Asia is the official newsletter of the Olympic Council of Asia, published quarterly. Executive Editor / Director General Husain Al-Musallam husain@ocasia.org Director, Int’l & NOC Relations Vinod Tiwari vinod@ocasia.org Director, Asian Games Department Haider A. Farman haider@ocasia.org Editor Jeremy Walker jeremy@ocasia.org Executive Secretary Nayaf Sraj nayaf@ocasia.org Media Manager Jeans Zhou Jian jeans@ocasia.org Olympic Council of Asia PO Box 6706, Hawalli Zip Code 32042 Kuwait Telephone: +965 22274277 - 88 Fax: +965 22274280 - 90 Email: info@ocasia.org Website: www.ocasia.org
A
fter a one-year delay, Tokyo 2020 finally took place in the Japanese summer of 2021 – and will go down as an outstanding success. There was a lot of debate as to whether the Games should go ahead due to the pandemic, but the decision to do so proved to be the correct one. For this we have to thank and congratulate the International Olympic Committee, the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Japanese Olympic Committee and the metropolitan and national governments for their teamwork. The planning and preparations were meticulous to ensure a safe and secure Olympic Games, and the National Olympic Committees around the world responded to meet these unprecedented challenges.
Front Cover: The Olympic flame and Olympic spirit are burning brightly in Tokyo. (Photo: STIRworld)
At this point I would like to praise the work of our NOCs in Asia. You were faced with so many additional requirements on top of the usual policies and procedures to join the Olympic Games and, through your diligence, were able to create the best possible environment for your athletes to perform. You looked after them before, during and after the Games to make sure they arrived home safely and there is no doubt you
played a part in their success. Once again this highlights the high level of organisation and administration within the Asian Olympic Movement and bears the fruit of the regular seminars and forums the OCA holds in association with Olympic Solidarity and other partners. The fact that over 11,000 athletes from 205 NOCs and the Olympic Refugee Team were able to gather in Tokyo while strictly following the protocol and countermeasures in place can be hailed as a success for the cooperation, unity and solidarity of the Olympic Movement around the world. Tokyo 2020 is the second leg of our Asian Olympic hosting hat trick following the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in 2018 and ahead of the Beijing Winter Games in just six months’ time. Asia has proved once again to be a trusted and reliable partner with the IOC and the Olympic Games and we can look forward to further success in Beijing next February, when the Chinese capital and 1990 Asian Games host city becomes the first city to stage both the Summer and Winter Olympics.
Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah President, Olympic Council of Asia
Page 05
138th IOC Session
IOC ELECTS BRISBANE TO HOST 2032 OLYMPIC GAMES
T
he International Olympic Committee voted to elect Brisbane, Australia as host of the Olympic Games in 2032 at the 138th IOC Session in Tokyo on July 21. A secret ballot was held at the IOC Session – just two days before the Opening Ceremony of Tokyo 2020 – and Brisbane received 72 Yes and 5 No votes from 77 valid votes. Brisbane 2032 will now follow Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 and become the third Australian city to host the Olympic Games after Melbourne 1956 and Sydney 2000. IOC President Thomas Bach said: “We encourage Olympic Games projects which are sustainable and economically responsible, which deliver the best possible Games experience for athletes and fans, and which leave solid legacies for local communities.
OLYMPIC GAMES/ASIAN GAMES CALENDAR 2020: Olympic Games, Tokyo 2022: Asian Games, Hangzhou 2024: Olympic Games, Paris 2026: Asian Games, Aichi/Nagoya 2028: Olympic Games, Los Angeles 2030: Asian Games, Doha 2032: Olympic Games, Brisbane 2034: Asian Games, Riyadh
“Today’s vote is a vote of trust that Brisbane and Queensland will stage magnificent Olympic and Paralympic Games 2032. We have heard a lot of positive feedback from IOC Members and International Federations in the past few months.” Brisbane 2032 is the first future host to have been elected under, and to have fully benefited from, the new flexible approach to electing Olympic hosts. President Bach added: “This new approach is lighter, more collaborative, more compact, and has a positive impact. Now we always have a significant pool of Interested Parties for 2036, and even for 2040, which is almost 20 years from now. I can’t remember that we have ever been in such a favourable position 20 years before an Olympic Games.”
IOC President Thomas Bach confirms Brisbane as the host of the 2032 Olympic Games. (Photo: IOC)
Brisbane awaits the Olympic Games in 2032. (Photo: Brisbane City Council) Page 06
138th IOC Session
IOC HONOUR FOR ASIAN DUO OTA, RYU
T
he 138th IOC Session in Tokyo held special significance for two Asian greats – Yuki Ota and Ryu Seung Min.
The four new members elected through to Los Angeles 2028 were:
Ota, the Japanese fencer, was one of four people elected to the IOC Athletes’ Commission (AC) on August 4 following a vote by athletes taking part in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Pau Gasol Basketball, Spain (1,888 votes)
Ryu, Korea’s Olympic table tennis champion at Athens 2004 and prominent worker for the OCA, was elected Vice Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission two days later on August 6.
Maja Włoszczowska Cycling, Poland (1,674 votes)
Between July 13 and August 3, 6,825 athletes voted in the IOC AC election, representing a participation rate of 61.27 per cent.
Federica Pellegrini Aquatics, Italy (1,658 votes) Yuki Ota Fencing, Japan (1,616 votes) Ota is a four-time Olympian, winning silver at Beijing 2008 and London 2012. In addition, he was world champion in 2015 and bronze medallist in 2010. In total, 30 candidates, from 30 different countries and representing 19 sports, stood for election.
The new Chair and Vice Chair of the IOC AC.
The new IOC Athletes’ Commission elected Emma Terho (Finland, Ice Hockey) as new Chair and Ryu Seung Min as new Vice Chair at a meeting on August 6. Ryu was elected to the AC at Rio 2016.
PHILIPPINES’ MIKEE RE-ELECTED IOC MEMBER
T
he Philippines’ Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski was re-elected IOC Member for eight more years at the 138th IOC Session in Tokyo.
Mikee, 47, joined the IOC in 2013 and became a member of the 15-strong IOC Executive Board in 2020. She has proved herself as an influential sports leader on and off the field of play, winning equestrian gold in the individual show jumping at the Busan Asian Games in 2002 and as a member of several IOC Commissions. These include: Coordination for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020 (2014-), Women and Sport (2014-2015), Olympic Channel (2015-), Communications (2015-), Olympic Education (2015-), Evaluation for the Games of XXXIII Olympiad in 2024 (2016-2017) and Coordination for the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad Paris 2024 (2017-). Mikee was one of five IOC Members re-elected, having completed their eight-year term.
Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski. (Photo: Facebook) Page 07
Games Overview
TOKYO 2020 PROVIDES PRIDE, JOY AND HOPE
D
espite the doom and gloom caused by the global pandemic, there can be no doubt that Tokyo 2020 succeeded in lifting the spirits of the world at such a difficult time.
The archery was just as tense, the diving was just as mesmerising, the gymnastics was just as gripping and the “big two” of swimming and athletics were just as captivating as at any other Olympic Games in history, even with virtually empty stands.
Even without spectators, there was a buzz and an excitement inside and outside the competition venues and the athletes themselves remained fully focused on the task at hand and on enjoying this special occasion. The gold still glittered, the silver still shined and the bronze still belonged in the history of the Olympic Games for athletes and countries around the world. Once the pre-departure requirements had been completed and arrival into Japan had been secured through painstaking procedures and protocols, there was nothing but positive energy and a sense of freedom and reunion around the Olympic Games. There may have been no spectators in the magnificent venues, but the athletes, their cheering teammates and officials still managed to generate an Olympic-style electricity which powered the performance and ignited the spirit of the athletes down in the field of play.
The picturesque archery venue at Yumenoshima Park. Page 08
The IOC President, Thomas Bach, recognised and appreciated all these factors in his closing ceremony address to the athletes: “You were competing fiercely with each other for Olympic glory. At the same time, you were living peacefully together under one roof in the Olympic Village. This is a powerful message of solidarity and peace.
Where history is made.
Games Overview
AROUND THE WORLD “You inspired us with this unifying power of sport. This was even more remarkable given the many challenges you had to face because of the pandemic. “In these difficult times, you give the world the most precious of gifts: hope.
Opening Ceremony: Venue: Opened by: Cauldron lit by:
July 23, 2021 Olympic Stadium Emperor Naruhito Naomi Osaka
“For the first time since the pandemic began, the entire world came together. Sport returned to centre stage. Billions of people around the globe were united by emotion, sharing moments of joy and inspiration. This gives us hope. This gives us faith in the future.
Closing Ceremony:
Competition Days:
16
“The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 are the Olympic Games of hope, solidarity and peace.”
Sports:
33
Events:
339
Tokyo 2020 came at just the right time for the world – and the decision to go ahead with the Olympic Games one year on from the original dates proved to be absolutely the right thing to do. The global fight against the pandemic is still ongoing – but, for 16 dazzling days of excellence, friendship and respect, the Olympic Games healed the world.
The new Olympic Stadium - ready to host the athletics.
Venue: Closed by:
Athletes: NOCs: Asian NOCs: Plus:
August 8, 2021 Olympic Stadium IOC President Thomas Bach
11,090 205 43 Olympic Refugee Team
Medals:
1,080.
Source:
Athlete365
Skateboarding was a big hit at Tokyo 2020 on its Olympic debut. Page 09
Medals Review
ASIA’S SUPER SPORTS BOOST MEDAL RANKINGS
A
sia’s Olympic super powers proved the value of building world domination in specific sports by finishing high in the medal rankings at Tokyo 2020. Although the United States claimed first place for a third successive Olympics with 39 gold medals and 113 overall, China and Japan rounded out the top three with 38 and 27 gold medals, respectively.
As for the host nation, they won over half their 27 gold medals in two sports: judo (nine) and wrestling (five). The strength and tenacity of their female athletes in judo and wrestling earned them eight gold medals from the 14 they won in those two sports. Korea came in 16th with six gold medals – and joint 13th overall with 20 (6-4-10). Four of their six gold medals were won in archery, including a hat trick for 20-year-old An San in mixed team, women’s team and women’s individual. A total of 22 Asian National Olympic Committees won at least one medal of some colour, and 12 of them went home with gold.
In total medals, China (38-32-18) also finished second in the rankings with 88, while Japan (27-14-17) came in fifth with 58. China won gold medals in 14 sports, but it was in diving and weightlifting that they truly excelled with seven out of the eight diving titles and seven gold from weightlifting. Next best were shooting and table tennis, both with four gold medals apiece.
Judo jewel: Shohei Ono (men -73kg) was one of Japan’s nine judo champions at Tokyo 2020 (Photo: Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai).
Diving domination: China’s Shi Tingmao won two gold medals – women’s 3m springboard and women’s synchronised 3m springboard with Wang Han. (Photo: CGTN) Page 10
Final Medals Table
Rank
Country/NOC
Total
Rank
Total
Country/NOC
1
United States of America
39
41
33
113
48
India
1
2
4
7
2
People's Republic of China
38
32
18
88
49
Hong Kong, China
1
2
3
6
3
Japan
27
14
17
58
50
Philippines
1
2
1
4
4
Great Britain
22
21
22
65
50
Slovakia
1
2
1
4
5
ROC
20
28
23
71
52
South Africa
1
2
0
3
6
Australia
17
7
22
46
53
Austria
1
1
5
7
7
Netherlands
10
12
14
36
54
Egypt
1
1
4
6
8
France
10
12
11
33
55
Indonesia
1
1
3
5
9
Germany
10
11
16
37
56
Ethiopia
1
1
2
4
10
Italy
10
10
20
40
56
Portugal
1
1
2
4
11
Canada
7
6
11
24
58
Tunisia
1
1
0
2
12
Brazil
7
6
8
21
59
Estonia
1
0
1
2
13
New Zealand
7
6
7
20
59
Fiji
1
0
1
2
14
Cuba
7
3
5
15
59
Latvia
1
0
1
2
15
Hungary
6
7
7
20
59
Thailand
1
0
1
2
16
Republic of Korea
6
4
10
20
63
Bermuda
1
0
0
1
17
Poland
4
5
5
14
63
Morocco
1
0
0
1
18
Czech Republic
4
4
3
11
63
Puerto Rico
1
0
0
1
19
Kenya
4
4
2
10
66
Colombia
0
4
1
5
20
Norway
4
2
2
8
67
Azerbaijan
0
3
4
7
21
Jamaica
4
1
4
9
68
Dominican Republic
0
3
2
5
22
Spain
3
8
6
17
69
Armenia
0
2
2
4
23
Sweden
3
6
0
9
70
Kyrgyzstan
0
2
1
3
24
Switzerland
3
4
6
13
71
Mongolia
0
1
3
4
25
Denmark
3
4
4
11
72
Argentina
0
1
2
3
26
Croatia
3
3
2
8
72
San Marino
0
1
2
3
27
Islamic Republic of Iran
3
2
2
7
74
Jordan
0
1
1
2
28
Serbia
3
1
5
9
74
Malaysia
0
1
1
2
29
Belgium
3
1
3
7
74
Nigeria
0
1
1
2
30
Bulgaria
3
1
2
6
77
Bahrain
0
1
0
1
31
Slovenia
3
1
1
5
77
Saudi Arabia
0
1
0
1
32
Uzbekistan
3
0
2
5
77
Lithuania
0
1
0
1
33
Georgia
2
5
1
8
77
North Macedonia
0
1
0
1
34
Chinese Taipei
2
4
6
12
77
Namibia
0
1
0
1
35
Turkey
2
2
9
13
77
Turkmenistan
0
1
0
1
36
Greece
2
1
1
4
83
Kazakhstan
0
0
8
8
36
Uganda
2
1
1
4
84
Mexico
0
0
4
4
38
Ecuador
2
1
0
3
85
Finland
0
0
2
2
39
Ireland
2
0
2
4
86
Botswana
0
0
1
1
39
Israel
2
0
2
4
86
Burkina Faso
0
0
1
1
41
Qatar
2
0
1
3
86
Côte d'Ivoire
0
0
1
1
42
Bahamas
2
0
0
2
86
Ghana
0
0
1
1
42
Kosovo
2
0
0
2
86
Grenada
0
0
1
1
44
Ukraine
1
6
12
19
86
Kuwait
0
0
1
1
45
Belarus
1
3
3
7
86
Republic of Moldova
0
0
1
1
46
Romania
1
3
0
4
86
Syrian Arab Republic
0
0
1
1
46
Venezuela
1
3
0
4
Legend:
Gold Medal
Silver Medal
Bronze Medal
Page 11
East Asia Spotlight AN’S GOLDEN HAT TRICK LIGHTS UP ARCHERY COMPETITION
T
he Korean archers are always the ones to beat at the Olympic Games – and nobody could beat An San! An, still only 20, announced her intentions even before the start of formal competition by shooting an Olympic record 680 points in the women’s individual ranking round on the morning of the Opening Ceremony. Her golden trail began the next day, teaming up with the pumped-up Kim Je Deok, only 17, to win the first edition of the mixed team competition. Neither An nor the Koreans were finished just yet, though, as she added the women’s team gold alongside Jang Minhee and Kang Chaeyoung. To underline her supremacy, An completed her Olympics with the women’s individual gold, keeping her nerve and focus to beat six opponents over two days to take the crown – sensational! After her golden hat trick, An admitted there was another vital weapon in her arsenal. “I cannot live without my earphones,” she said. “I listen to a lot of music - girl group songs.” Amidst China’s gold rush, even the feat of Zhang Yufei stood out. The 23-year-old Youth Olympian enjoyed an incredible morning session at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre on July 29, winning two gold medals in just over an hour.
Korean archer An San displays her three gold medals. (Photo: KSOC)
First up was the women’s 200m butterfly, in which she shattered the Olympic record with a time of 2:03.86. Sixty-three minutes later she was back in the pool as part of the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay – and setting a world record of 7:40.33 on the way to victory. Two gold medals, one world record and one Olympic record in one session – not a bad morning's work for Zhang Yufei. Of Japan’s 27 gold medals, two of them were won by judo siblings and another two by wrestling sisters. Uta Abe (women -52kg) and Hifumi Abe (men -66kg) became the first sister and brother to win a gold medal in an individual sport on the same day in Olympic history. In wrestling, Yukako Kawai won gold in the women’s freestyle 62kg and was followed on to the top of the podium the next day by her elder sister and Rio 2016 champion Risako, who won the women’s freestyle 57kg title. Page 12
Chinese swimmer Zhang Yufei won two gold medals in one morning session. (Photo: Xinhua)
South East Asia Spotlight DIAZ LIFTS SPIRITS WITH HISTORIC GOLD MEDAL FOR PHILIPPINES
T
he place was the Tokyo International Forum; the date Monday, July 26, 2021. The occasion…the first gold medal for the Philippines in 97 years of Olympic Games participation! The star of the show was weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz – silver medallist at Rio 2016, Asian Games champion in 2018 and with the hopes of the nation on her shoulders.
The pride of Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines added: “I just want to tell all the Filipinos that winning this medal is not only for me having all the sacrifices, it is also giving them the inspiration that, even though we had the pandemic, we should not give up. So this medal is for all the Filipino in the Philippines.”
She did not disappoint. With a super human effort in the last lift of the women’s 55kg competition, the 30-year-old Diaz hoisted an Olympic record 127kg in her third and final clean and jerk. Together with her 97kg effort in the snatch, this gave her the gold medal with a total score of 224kg – another Olympic record. The Philippines – and the millions of Filipinos around the world – erupted in pride and joy, and the four-time Olympian would soon be receiving rich rewards in terms of incentive money from the sports authorities and other gifts such as a house and lot, condominium and free flights for the rest of her life. “It’s surreal. It’s unbelievable,” she said. “For me, winning in the Olympics means a lot for every Filipino in the Philippines because, right now, every Filipino needs inspiration because we are in pandemic. There’s a lot of people who want to give up on their life, want to give up on their dream or want to not to do anything because of the pandemic. “Keep fighting and doing what you love, even though it’s hard, because it’s worth it – like this medal.”
She’s done it! Hidilyn Diaz ends the Philippines’ 97-year wait for an Olympic gold medal. (Photo: HD Facebook)
MALAYSIA’S “Pocket Rocketman” Mohd Azizulhasni Awang brought cheer to the contingent – and a silver medal – in the men’s keirin at Izu Velodrome on the last day of the Games. It was the second Olympic medal for the 33-year-old track cyclist at his fourth Olympics following keirin bronze at Rio 2016. (Photo: AFP)
Page 13
South Asia Spotlight
CHOPRA’S JAVELIN JOY HIGHLIGHTS ‘SUPER SATURDAY’
W
ith seven gold medals up for grabs in track and field on August 7, no wonder it was dubbed “Super Saturday”.
Haryana had announced his intentions by leading qualifying on August 4 with a throw of 86.65 metres.
By close of play, it would be the name of Neeraj Chopra – the headbanded javelin genius with the Bollywood looks - up in lights at the Olympic Stadium following his swashbuckling success.
In the final, his oh-so-smooth second attempt flew 87.58 metres into the Tokyo night sky – and would not be challenged for the remainder of the competition.
Not only was it India’s first gold medal in athletics in Olympic Games history, it was also only the second gold medal for the country in an individual sport, following the 10m air rifle shooting gold of Abhinav Bindra at Beijing 2008. The 23-year-old farmer’s son from Panipat in the state of
"It feels unbelievable," said Chopra. "It's a proud moment for me and my country. "In the qualification round I threw very well so I knew I could do better in the final. I didn't know it would be gold - but I am very happy." His stunning victory produced nationwide celebrations back home. India's Sports Minister, Anurag Thakur, described Chopra as "India's golden boy" on Twitter. "India's Olympic history has been scripted," he said. "Your superbly soaring throw deserves a billion cheers." Prime Minister Narendra Modi added: “History has been scripted at Tokyo! What @Neeraj_chopra1 has achieved today will be remembered forever. The young Neeraj has done exceptionally well. He played with remarkable passion and showed unparalleled grit. Congratulations to him for winning the Gold.”
India's golden boy Neeraj Chopra. (Photo: Twitter @olympics)
The President of the Indian Olympic Association, Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra, commented: “Well done Neeraj, Entire Country is Proud of You.”
INDIA’S men’s hockey team enjoyed a renaissance as they won the bronze medal – the first medal for 41 years since gold at Moscow 1980. The women’s team also captivated the nation by finishing fourth and contributing to a major feelgood factor around the country. (Photo: Reuters)
Page 14
Central Asia Spotlight GURYEVA EARNS HISTORIC SILVER MEDAL FOR TURKMENISTAN map by earning silver in the women’s 59kg category with a total lift of 217kg (96kg snatch, 121kg clean and jerk). It was Turkmenistan’s first medal since they joined the Olympic Games as an independent state in 1996. “I was in shock because it's the first Olympic medal in the history of the Turkmen people. It's the first medal - which I won! No sport in Turkmenistan has had a medal, not one medal,” she said. "I think I've entered the history of Turkmenistan by winning a medal. I'm so in shock."
Polina Guryeva won Turkmenistan's first medal at the Olympics. (Photo: AFP)
During the pandemic, Guryeva decided to drop down a weight from 64kg to 59kg to pursue her Olympic dream - and the move paid off big time.
E
She is not finished yet, though. In her Olympic Games Athlete Profile, she says her goal is to win gold - at Paris 2024.
Now they have an Olympic hero, too.
The silver medal is also a rich reward for the President of Turkmenistan and of Turkmenistan National Olympic Committee, HE Mr Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, for the emphasis he has placed on sports and a healthy lifestyle for the population.
veryone who attended the OCA’s 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat in 2017 knows that Turkmenistan has world-class sports infrastructure.
Weightlifter Polina Guryeva, 21, put Turkmenistan on the medals
SUPER JALOLOV BOXES TO GOLD FOR UZBEKISTAN
U
zbekistan needed a super performance from Bakhodir Jalolov in the men’s super heavyweight (+91kg) final on the last day of the Games, August 8….and didn’t he deliver! The 27-year-old world champion used his greater height, reach and strength to overpower his American challenger, Richard Torres Jr, in a unanimous 5-0 decision at the end of an explosive encounter. Torres ended the fight bruised, bloodied around the left eye and battered as Jalolov made sure Uzbekistan would go home with boxing gold.
Jalolov gets down to business in the super heavyweight final on August 8. (Photo: Sky Sports)
“The last bout was really hard," Jalolov said. “I still feel as if I’m dreaming right now, being a champion. I think a lot of sportsmen
would love to be the Olympic champion. It was also one of my dreams when I was a child. Now I could achieve the result.” Page 15
West Asia Spotlight
QATAR BREAKS NEW GROUND WITH GOLDEN DOUBLE
C
oming into the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Qatar had never won a gold medal. They went home with two – and a bronze medal bonus! Fares Ibrahim Elbakh opened Qatar’s gold medal account with a record-breaking victory in weightlifting, men’s 96kg, at Tokyo International Forum on July 31. The 23-year-old Asian Games silver medallist - popularly known as Meso Hassona – lifted 177kg in snatch and an Olympic record 225kg in clean and jerk for an Olympic record total of 402kg. It gave him victory by a whopping 15kg! The new Olympic champion took to Instagram to thank his father, Ibrahim Hassouna, who represented Egypt in weightlifting at three Olympic Games. “He's not just my coach. He’s my father, my friend and my Idol. Without him my journey was not going to be possible. I am glad that I brought you the gold medal. Thank you,” he said. NOTE: For Qatar’s second gold medal – and a magical moment from Tokyo 2020 – see Page 15.
Fares Ibrahim wins Qatar’s first gold medal.
KUWAIT’S bronze medal, from Abdullah Al Rashidi in shooting - skeet men - meant the flag of Kuwait could be hoisted once again at the Olympic Games now the IOC suspension is in the distant past.
BAHRAIN’S men’s handball team experienced a rollercoaster ride on their Olympic debut, qualifying for the quarterfinals before going down to eventual champions France 42-28.
The President of Kuwait Olympic Committee, HE Sheikh Fahad Nasser Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, said: “We were very happy to see our flag up. The athletes were very happy, Kuwait…everyone was happy. It’s a great thing. I hope that always our flag will be up and raised.”
They had finished fourth in six-team Group B after beating Japan 32-30 and losing to Sweden 32-31, Portugal 26-25, Denmark 31-21 and Egypt 30-20. Their performances earned the highest praise back home, from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
(Photo: AP)
(Photo: IHF)
Page 16
Magic Moment
BARSHIM RAISES THE BAR WITH OLYMPIC GOLDEN GESTURE
“C
an we have two golds?”
This was possibly the most famous sentence uttered at Tokyo 2020 – and it came from Qatar’s high jump champion Mutaz Essa Barshim. On a steamy night at the Olympic Stadium, Barshim and Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi were the last two standing and absolutely neck and neck in the race for high jump gold. Both had cleared 2.37 metres without any faults along the way – but both had failed all three attempts at 2.39. At this point, the referee approached them and asked if they wanted to continue with a jump-off. Barshim asked: “Can we have two golds?” When the official confirmed this was possible in high jump regulations, the two athletes – rivals and friends – erupted in joy and embraced each other as the world watched on.
‘For me it’s very important also not to forget the real reason of sport, the real message: This is still sport, it is still a tool for us to come together and build this sort of relationship.’
“It was very intense, the best competition in the history of high jump,” he added. “When it came to 2.37 and no one was left, I just looked at Gianmarco and he looked at my eyes…and we both understood. That’s it! There’s no need. For what? “The funny thing is we understood just by looking. We had already started celebrating. The referee didn’t even finish explaining to us and we were screaming and jumping around.”
Later, Barshim explained that this moment in sport was so much bigger than performance itself.
Barshim described the pair as “really good friends” and said they had been competing against each other for around 11 years, since juniors. The Italian had even attended Barshim’s wedding and Barshim was planning to return the favour soon.
“It’s like humanity, solidarity, unity and peace all coming together,” he said. “This is beyond sport. This is a true message, so I am really proud of that moment.”
The Qatari hero concluded: “We are athletes, we are competitors, it is in our nature, that’s what we have been doing for so many years.
Barshim said the outcome had not been planned before the competition began; it was just that they had been jumping so well and clearing every height at the first attempt.
“For me it’s very important also not to forget the real reason of sport, the real message: This is still sport, it is still a tool for us to come together and build this sort of relationship.”
Barshim roars in delight after making another clearance. (AFP)
The two gold medal-winners enjoy the moment. (Getty Images) Page 17
Asian Gold … Asian Gold … Asian Gold … Asian Gold …
SKATEBOARDING made a triumphant Olympic debut – and 13-year-old Momiji Nishiya grabbed the headlines as the youngest Olympic champion in Japan’s history. Born on August 30, 2007, the young daredevil took up skateboarding aged seven and won the women’s street title in thrilling style. (Photo: Reuters)
IRAN won three gold medals at Tokyo 2020. Here’s one of them – for Greco-Roman wrestler Mohammadreza Geraei at 67kg. (Photo: Mehr News Agency)
CHINESE Taipei’s Kuo Hsing-Chun was in a different class in women’s weightlifting 59kg, winning the gold medal by a margin of 19kg with three Olympic records in snatch (103kg), clean and jerk (133kg) and total (236kg). (Photo: CNA) Page 18
FENCER Edgar Cheung Ka Long, 24, won gold in the men’s individual foil for Hong Kong, China. It was only Hong Kong’s second gold medal in Olympic history and helped them to a record haul of six medals: one gold, two silver and three bronze. (Photo: IC)
Asian Gold … Asian Gold … Asian Gold … Asian Gold …
INDONESIA’S women’s doubles team of Greysia Polii, 34, (left) and Apriyani Rahayu, 23, provided the most moving images of the badminton competition as they won gold – the first in this category for the badminton-crazy nation. (Photo: BWF)
THAILAND’S sole gold medal came from Wongpattanakit Panipak in women’s -49kg taekwondo. The 24-year-old Youth Olympian and Olympic Scholarship athlete trailed Spain’s Adriano Cerezo Iglesias 10-9 in the third round of the final but scored a two-point body kick with just seven seconds remaining to win 11-10 – and take gold. (Photo: AFP)
CHINA’S women’s quadruple sculls team earned rowing gold in a world record time of 6:05.13, courtesy of Chen Yunxia, Zhang Ling, Lyu Yang and Cui Xiaotong. (Photo: CGTN)
Page 19
NOC by NOC
Gold, Silver and Bronze
ALL THE ASIAN MEDALS AT TOKYO 2020
Kalkidan Gezahegne of Bahrain – silver medal in the women’s 10,000 metres. (Photo: BOC)
Bahrain Silver (1)
Athletics: Kalkidan Gezahegne - women’s 10,000m, August 7
China Gold (38)
Artistic Gymnastics: Liu Yang - men’s rings, August 2. Artistic Gymnastics: Zou Jingyuan - men’s parallel bars, August 3. Artistic Gymnastics: Guan Chenchen - women’s balance beam, August 3. Athletics: Gong Lijiao - women’s shot put, August 1. Athletics: Liu Shiying - women’s javelin, August 6. Badminton: Wang Yilyu/Huang Dongping - mixed doubles, July 30. Badminton: Chen Yufei - women’s singles, August 1. Canoe Sprint: Sun Mengya/Xu Shixiao - women’s canoe double 500m, August 7. Cycling Track: Bao Shanju/Guo Yufang/Zhong Tianshi women’s team sprint, August 2. Diving: Shi Tingmao/Wang Han - women’s synchronised 3m springboard, July 25. Diving: Chen Yuxi/Zhang Jiaqi - women’s synchronised 10m platform, July 27. Page 20
China's Yang Qian won the first gold medal of Tokyo 2020. (Photo: AFP) Diving: Wang Zongyuan/Xie Siyi - men’s synchronised 3m springboard, July 28. Diving: Shi Tingmao - women’s 3m springboard, August 1. Diving: Xie Siyi - men’s 3m springboard, August 3. Diving: Quan Hongchan - women’s 10m platform, August 5. Diving: Cao Yuan - men’s 10m platform, August 7. Fencing: Sun Yiwen - women’s epee individual, July 24. Rowing: Chen Yunxia/Zhang Ling/Lyu Yang/Cui Xiaotong women’s quadruple sculls, July 28. Sailing: Lu Yunxiu - women’s windsurfer RS:X, July 31. Shooting: Yang Qian - women’s 10m air rifle, July 24. Shooting: Jiang Ranxin/Pang Wei - 10m air pistol mixed team, July 27. Shooting: Yang Qian/Yang Haoran - 10m air rifle mixed team, July 27. Shooting: Zhang Changhong - 50m rifle 3 positions men’s final, August 2. Swimming: Zhang Yufei - women’s 200m butterfly, July 29. Swimming: Tang Muhan/Li Bingjie/Yang Junxuan/Zhang Yufei - women’s 4x200m freestyle relay, July 29 Swimming: Wang Shun - men’s 200m Individual Medley, July 30 Table Tennis: Chen Meng - women’s singles, July 29 Table Tennis: Ma Long - men’s singles, July 30 Table Tennis: Chen Meng/Sun Yingsha/Wang Manyu women’s team, August 5 Table Tennis: Xu Xin/Ma Long/Fan Zhendong - men’s team, August 6 Trampoline Gymnastics: Zhu Xueying - women’s trampoline, July 30 Weightlifting: Hou Zhihui - women’s 49kg, July 24 Weightlifting: Li Fabin - men’s 61kg, July 25
NOC by NOC
Gold, Silver and Bronze
China won the silver medal in artistic swimming women's free routine. (Photo: Global Times) Weightlifting: Chen Lijun - men’s 67kg, July 25. Weightlifting: Shi Zhiyong - men’s 73kg, July 28. Weightlifting: Lyu Xiaojun - men’s 81kg, July 31. Weightlifting: Wang Zhouyu - women’s 87kg, August 2. Weightlifting: Li Wenwen - women’s +87kg, August 2.
Silver (32)
Artistic Gymnastics: Xiao Ruoteng - men’s All-Around, July 28. Artistic Gymnastics: You Hao - men’s rings, August 2. Artistic Gymnastics: Tang Xijing - women’s balance beam, August 3. Artistic Swimming: Sun Wenyan/Huang Xuechen - duet, August 4. Artistic Swimming: Women’s team free routine, August 7. Athletics: Wang Zheng - women’s hammer throw, August 3. Athletics: Zhu Yaming - men’s triple jump, August 5. Badminton: Zheng Siwei/Huang Yaqiong - mixed doubles, July 30. Badminton: Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan - women’s doubles, August 2. Badminton: Li Junhui/Liu Yuchen - men’s doubles, July 31. Badminton: Chen Long - men’s singles, August 2. Boxing: Gu Hong - women’s welterweight (64-69kg), August 7. Boxing: Li Qian - women’s middleweight (69-75kg), August 8. Canoe Sprint: Liu Hao/Zheng Pengfei - men’s canoe double 1000m, August 3. Canoe Sprint: Liu Hao - men’s canoe single 1000m, August 7. Diving: Cao Yuan/Chen Aisen - men’s synchronised 10m platform, July 26. Diving: Wang Han - women’s 3m springboard, August 1. Diving: Wang Zongyuan - men’s 3m springboard, August 3. Diving: Chen Yuxi - women’s 10m platform, August 5. Diving: Yang Jian - men’s 10m platform, August 7. Karate: Yin Xiaoyan - women’s kumite -61kg, August 6. Shooting: Sheng Lihao - men’s 10m air rifle, July 25. Swimming: Zhang Yufei - women’s 100m butterfly, July 26. Swimming: Xu Jiayu/Yan Zibei/Zhang Yufei/Yang Junxuan -
mixed 4x100m medley relay, July 31. Table Tennis: Xu Xin/Liu Shiwen - mixed doubles, July 26. Table Tennis: Sun Yingsha - women’s singles, July 29. Table Tennis: Fan Zhendong - men’s singles, July 30. Trampoline Gymnastics: Liu Lingling - women’s trampoline, July 30. Trampoline Gymnastics: Dong Dong - men’s trampoline, July 31. Weightlifting: Liao Qiuyun - women’s 55kg, July 26. Wrestling: Pang Qianyu - women’s freestyle 53kg, August 6. Wrestling: Sun Yanan - women’s freestyle 50kg, August 7.
Bronze (18)
Basketball 3x3: Yang Shuyu/Zhang Zhiting/Wan Jiyuan/Wang Lili - women’s 3x3, July 28 Artistic Gymnastics: Lin Chaopan/Sun Wei/Zou Jingyuan/Xiao Ruoteng - men’s team, July 26 Artistic Gymnastics: Xiao Ruoteng - men’s floor exercise, August 1 Athletics: Liu Hong - women’s 20km race walk, August 6 Karate: Gong Li - women’s kumite +61kg, August 7 Rowing: Liu Zhiyu/Zhang Liang - men’s double sculls, July 28 Rowing: Wang Zifeng/Wang Yuwei/Xu Fei/Miao Tan/Zhang Min/Ju Rui/Li Jingjing/Guo Linlin/Zhang Dechang - women’s eight, July 30 Sailing: Bi Kun - men’s windsurfer RS:X, July 31 Shooting: Pang Wei - men’s 10m air pistol, July 24 Shooting: Yang Haoran - men’s 10m air rifle, July 25 Shooting: Jiang Ranxin - women’s 10m air pistol, July 25 Shooting: Wei Meng - women’s skeet, July 26 Shooting: Xiao Jiaruixuan - 25m pistol women, July 30 Shooting: Li Yuehong - 25m rapid fire pistol men, August 2 Swimming: Li Bingjie - women’s 400m freestyle, July 26 Taekwondo: Zhao Shuai - men -68kg, July 25 Wrestling: Walihan Sailike - men’s Greco-Roman 60kg, August 2 Wrestling: Zhou Qian - women’s freestyle, 76kg, August 2 Page 21
NOC by NOC
Gold, Silver and Bronze
Siobhan Haughey won two silver medals for Hong Kong, China. (Photo: AFP)
Ravi Kumar Dahiya claimed wrestling silver for India. (Photo: Getty Images)
Hong Kong, China
India
Gold (1)
Gold (1)
Silver (2)
Silver (2)
Fencing: Cheung Ka Long - men’s foil individual, July 26.
Swimming: Siobhan Bernadette Haughey - women’s 200m freestyle, July 28. Swimming: Siobhan Bernadette Haughey - women’s 100m freestyle, July 30.
Bronze (3)
Cycling Track: Sarah Lee Wai Sze - women’s sprint, August 8. Karate: Grace Lau Mo Sheung - women’s kata, August 5. Table Tennis: Doo Hoi Kem/Minnie Soo Wai Yam/Lee Ho Ching - women’s team, August 5. Page 22
Athletics: Neeraj Chopra - men’s javelin, August 7.
Weightlifting: Mirabai Chanu - women’s 49kg, July 24 Wrestling: Ravi Kumar Dahiya - men’s freestyle 57kg, August 5.
Bronze (4)
Badminton: Pusarla V Sindhu - women’s singles, August 1. Boxing: Lovlina Borgohain - women’s welterweight (64-69kg), August 4. Hockey: Men’s team, August 5. Wrestling: Bajrang Punia - men’s freestyle 65kg, August 7.
NOC by NOC
Gold, Silver and Bronze
Eko Yuli Irawan lifted a silver medal for Indonesia. (Photo: AFP)
COVID-19 nurse Javad Foroughi won pistol gold for Iran. (Photo: Getty Images)
Indonesia Gold (1)
Badminton: Greysia Polii/Apriyani Rahayu - women’s doubles, August 2.
Silver (1)
Weightlifting: Eko Yuli Irawan - men’s 61kg, July 25.
Bronze (3)
Badminton: Anthony Sinisuka Ginting - men’s singles, August 2. Weightlifting: Windy Cantika Aisah - women’s 49kg, July 24. Weightlifting: Rahmat Erwin Abdullah - men’s 73kg, July 28.
Iran Gold (3)
Karate: Sajad Ganjzadeh - men’s kumite +75kg, August 7. Shooting: Javad Foroughi - men’s 10m air pistol, July 24. Wrestling: Mohammadreza Geraei - men’s Greco-Roman 67kg, August 4.
Silver (2)
Weightlifting: Ali Davoudi - men’s +109kg, August 4. Wrestling: Hassan Yazdanicharati - men’s freestyle 86kg, August 5.
Bronze (2)
Wrestling: Mohammadhadi Saravi - men’s Greco-Roman 97kg, August 3. Wrestling: Amir Hossein Zare - men’s freestyle 125kg, August 6. Page 23
NOC by NOC
Gold, Silver and Bronze Swimming: Yui Ohashi - women’s 400m Individual Medley, July 25. Swimming: Yui Ohashi - women’s 200m Individual Medley, July 28. Table Tennis: Jun Mizutani/Mima Ito - mixed doubles, July 26. Wrestling: Yukako Kawai - women’s freestyle 62kg, August 4. Wrestling: Risako Kawai - women’s freestyle 57kg, August 5. Wrestling: Mayu Mukaida - women’s freestyle 53kg, August 6. Wrestling: Takuto Otoguro - men’s freestyle 65kg, August 7. Wrestling: Yui Susaki - women’s freestyle 50kg, August 7.
Silver (14)
Japan's Daiki Hashimoto won two gold medals in artistic gymnastics. (Photo: Asahi Shimbun)
Japan Gold (27)
Artistic Gymnastics: Daiki Hashimoto - men’s all-around, July 28. Artistic Gymnastics: Daiki Hashimoto - men’s horizontal bar, August 3. Baseball/Softball: Women’s softball, July 27. Baseball/Sotball: Men’s baseball, August 7. Boxing: Sena Irie - women’s featherweight (54-57kg), August 3. Fencing: Koki Kano/Kazuyasu Minobe/Masaru Yamada/Satoru Uyama - men’s epee team, July 30. Judo: Naohisa Takato - men’s -60kg, July 24. Judo: Uta Abe - women -52kg, July 25. Judo: Hifumi Abe - men -66kg, July 25. Judo: Shohei Ono - men -73kg, July 26. Judo: Takanori Nagase - men -81kg, July 27. Judo: Chizuru Arai - women -70kg, July 28. Judo: Aaron Wolf - men -100kg, July 29. Judo: Shori Hamada - women -78kg, July 29. Judo: Akira Sone - women +78kg, July 30. Karate: Ryo Kiyuna - men’s kata, August 6. Skateboarding: Yuto Horigome - men’s street, July 25. Skateboarding: Momiji Nishiya - women’s street, July 26. Skateboarding: Sakura Yosozumi - women’s park, August 4. Page 24
Artistic Gymnastics: Daiki Hashimoto/Kazuma Kaya/Takeru Kitazono/Wataru Tanigawa - men’s team, July 26. Athletics: Koki Ikeda - men’s 20km race walk, August 5. Basketball: Women’s team, August 8. Cycling Track: Yumi Kajihara - women’s omnium points race, August 8. Golf: Mone Inami – women’s individual stroke play, August 7. Judo: Funa Tonaki - women -48kg, July 24. Judo: mixed team, July 31. Karate: Kiyou Shimizu - women’s kata, August 5. Skateboarding: Kokona Hiraki - women’s park, August 4. Sport Climbing: Miho Nonaka - women’s combined, August 6. Surfing: Kanoa Igarashi - men, July 27. Swimming: Tomoru Honda - men’s 200m butterfly, July 28. Table Tennis: Mima Ito/Kasumi Ishikawa/Miu Hirano women’s team, August 5. Wrestling: Kenichiro Fumita - men’s Greco-Roman 60kg, August 2.
Bronze (17)
Archery: Takaharu Furukawa/Yuki Kawata/Hiroki Muto men’s team, July 26. Archery: Takaharu Furukawa - men’s individual, July 31. Artistic Gymnastics: Kazuma Kaya - men’s pommel horse, August 1. Artistic Gymnastics: Mai Murakami - women’s floor exercise, August 2. Athletics: Toshikazu Yamanishi - men’s 20km race walk, August 5. Badminton: Yuta Watanabe/Arisa Higashino - mixed doubles, July 30. Boxing: Tsukimi Namiki - women’s flyweight (48-51kg), August 4. Boxing: Ryomei Tanaka - men’s flyweight (48-52kg), August 5. Judo: Tsukasa Yoshida - women -57kg, July 26. Karate: Ryutaro Araga - men’s kumite +75kg, August 7. Skateboarding: Funa Nakayama - women’s street, July 26. Sport Climbing: Akiyo Noguchi - women’s combined, August 6. Surfing: Amuro Tsuzuki - women, July 27. Table Tennis: Mima Ito - women’s singles, July 29. Table Tennis: Jun Mizutani/Tomokazu Harimoto/Koki Niwa men’s team, August 6. Weightlifting: Mikiko Andoh - women’s 59kg, July 27. Wrestling: Shohei Yabiku - men’s Greco-Roman 77kg, August 3.
NOC by NOC
Gold, Silver and Bronze
Saleh Salah El Sharabaty of Jordan – silver medal in taekwondo men’s-80kg.
Zulfiya Chinshanlo of Kazakhstan – bronze medal in women’s weightlifting 55kg. (Photo: Reuters)
Jordan Silver (1)
Saleh Al Sharabaty: Taekwondo – men -80kg, July 26.
Bronze (1)
Abdel Rahman Al Masatfa: Karate – men’s kumite -67kg, August 5.
Kazakhstan Bronze (8)
Boxing: Kamshybek Kunkabayev - men’s super heavyweight (+91kg), August 4. Boxing: Saken Bibossinov - men’s flyweight (48-52kg), August 5. Judo: Yeldos Smetov - men -60kg, July 24. Karate: Darkhan Assadilov - men’s kumite -67kg, August 5. Karate: Sofya Berultseva - women’s kumite +61kg, August 7. Weightlifting: Igor Son - men’s 61kg, July 25. Weightlifting: Zulfiya Chinshanlo - women 55kg, July 26. Wrestling: Nurislam Sanayev - men’s freestyle 57kg, August 5. Page 25
NOC by NOC
Gold, Silver and Bronze
Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan – silver medal in women’s 62kg freestyle wrestling. (Photo: Getty Images)
Korea Gold (6)
Archery: An San/Kim Je Deok - mixed team, July 24. Archery: An San/Jang Minhee/Kang Chaeyoung - women’s team, July 25. Archery: Kim Je Deok/Kim Woojin/Oh Jinhyek - men’s team, July 26. Archery: An San - women’s individual, July 30. Artistic Gymnastics: Shin Jeahwan - men’s vault, August 2. Fencing: Oh Sanguk/Kim Junho/Kim Junghwan/Gu Bongil men’s sabre team, July 28.
Modern Pentathlon: Jun Woongtae - men’s individual, August 7. Taekwondo: Jang Jun - men -58kg, July 24. Taekwondo: In Kyo Don - men +80kg, July 27.
Silver (4)
Bronze (1)
Fencing: Choi Injeong/Lee Hyein/Kang Young Mi/Song Sera - women’s epee team, July 27. Judo: Cho Guham - men -100kg, July 29. Shooting: Kim Minjung - 25m pistol women, July 30. Taekwondo: Lee Dabin - women +67kg, July 27.
Bronze (10)
Artisitc Gymnastics: Yeo Seojeong - women’s vault, August 1. Badminton: Kim Soyeong/Kong Heeyong - women’s doubles, August 2. Fencing: Kim Junghwan - men’s sabre individual, July 24. Fencing: Park Sangyoung/Ma Segeon/Song Jaeho/Kweon Youngjun - men’s epee team, July 30. Fencing: Kim Jiyeon/Yoon Jisu/Seo Jiyeon/Choi Sooyeon women’s sabre team, July 31. Judo: An Baul - men -66kg, July 25. Judo: An Changrim - men -73kg, July 26. Page 26
Kuwait Shooting: Abdullah Al-Rashidi - men’s skeet, July 26.
Kyrgyzstan Silver (2)
Wrestling: Akzhol Makhmudov - men’s Greco-Roman 77kg, August 3. Wrestling: Aisuluu Tynybekova - women’s freestyle 62kg, August 4.
Bronze (1)
Wrestling: Meerim Zhumanazarova - women’s freestyle 68kg, August 3.
NOC by NOC
Gold, Silver and Bronze
Bat Ochir Bolortuya of Mongolia – bronze medal in women’s freestyle wrestling 53kg. (Photo: Montsame News Agency)
Malaysia
Philippines
Silver (1)
Track Cycling: Azizulhasni Awang - men’s keirin, August 8.
Bronze (1)
Gold (1)
Weightlifting: Hidilyn Diaz - women’s 55kg, July 26.
Badminton: Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik - men’s doubles, July 31.
Mongolia Silver (1)
Silver (2)
Boxing: Nesthy Petecio - women’s featherweight (54-57kg), August 3. Boxing: Carlo Paalam - men’s flyweight (48-52kg), August 7.
Bronze (1)
Boxing: Eumir Marcial - men’s middleweight (69-75kg), August 5.
Judo: Saeid Mollaei, men -81kg, July 27.
Bronze (3)
Judo: Urantsetseg Munkhbat - women -48kg, July 24. Judo: Tsogtbaatar Tsend-Ochir - men -73kg, July 26. Wrestling: Bolortuya Bat Ochir - women’s freestyle 53kg, August 6. Page 27
NOC by NOC
Gold, Silver and Bronze
Tareg Hamedi of Saudi Arabia (left) – silver medal in karate, men’s kumite +75kg. Sajad Ganjzadeh of Iran took gold.
Man Asaad of Syria – bronze medal in men’s weightlifting +109kg. (Photo: SANA)
Qatar Gold (2)
Athletics: Mutaz Essa Barshim - men’s high jump, August 1. Weightlifting: Fares Ibrahim E.H. Elbakh - men’s 96kg, July 31.
Saudi Arabia Silver (1)
Karate: Tareg Hamedi - men’s kumite +75kg, August 7.
Syria
Bronze (1)
Beach Volleyball: Cherif Younousse/Ahmed Tijan - men’s event, August 7.
Bronze (1)
Weightlifting: Man Asaad - men’s +109kg, August 4. Page 28
NOC by NOC
Gold, Silver and Bronze
Lee Yang (left) and Wang Chi-Lin celebrate badminton gold for Chinese Taipei (Photo: Getty Images)
Chinese Taipei Gold (2)
Badminton: Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin - men’s doubles, July 31. Weightlifting: Kuo Hsing-Chun - women’s 59kg, July 27.
Silver (4)
Archery: Deng Yu-Cheng/Tang Chih-Chun/Wei Chun-Heng - men’s team, July 26. Artistic Gymnastics: Lee Chih Kai - men’s pommel horse, August 1. Badminton: Tai Tzu Ying, women’s singles, August 1. Judo: Yang Yung Wei - men -60kg, July 24.
Bronze (6)
Boxing: Huang Hsiao-Wen - women’s flyweight (48-51kg), August 4. Golf: C.T. Pan, men’s individual stroke play, August 1. Karate: Wen Tzuyun - women’s kumite -55kg, August 5. Table Tennis: Lin Yun Ju/Cheng I Ching - mixed doubles, July 26. Taekwondo: Lo Chia-Ling - women -57kg, July 25. Weightlifting: Chen Wen-Huei - women’s 64kg, July 27.
Thailand Gold (1)
Taekwondo: Panipak Wongpattanakit - women-49kg, July 24.
Bronze (1)
Boxing: Sudaporn Seesondee - women’s lightweight (57-60kg), August 5.
Turkmenistan Silver (1)
Weightlifting: Polina Guryeva - women’s 59kg, July 27.
Uzbekistan Gold (3)
Boxing: Bakhodir Jalolov - men’s super heavyweight (91+kg), August 8. Taekwondo: Ulugbek Rashitov - men -68kg, July 25. Weightlifting: Akbar Djuraev - men’s 109kg, August 3.
Bronze (2)
Judo: Davlat Bobonov - men -90kg, July 28. Wrestling: Bekzod Abdurakhmonov - men’s freestyle 74kg, August 6. Page 29
NOC Social Media … NOC Social Media …
LAOS: Silina Pha Aphay arrives on the big stage of the Olympic Stadium. The Lao Athletics Federation posted on Facebook the day before her 100 metres heat urging everyone to tune in and cheer for her. It worked - she ran a season’s best 12.41 seconds. (Lao Athletics Federation Facebook)
YEMEN: Team photo in the Olympic Village on the day of the opening ceremony, July 23. (Yemen Olympic Committee Facebook)
PALESTINE: Wesam Abu Rmilah shows off his judogi – a lifetime reminder of his participation in the Olympic Games. (Photo: Palestine Olympic Committee Facebook) Page 30
SINGAPORE: With family, friends and fans unable to attend Tokyo 2020, Singapore National Olympic Council provided an excellent media service for the people back home, including a comprehensive daily diary, reports, results and spectacular photographs. Great job SNOC! (Singapore National Olympic Council Facebook)
CAMBODIA: The delegation arrives home safely, led by NOCC Secretary General Vath Chamroeun (far left). (Cambodia SEA Games 2023 Facebook)
NOC Social Media … NOC Social Media …
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: H.E. Azza bin Sulaiman, Assistant Secretary-General for Administrative and Financial Affairs of the National Olympic Committee, met H.E. Sheikh Fahad Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, President of the Kuwait Olympic Committee, on the sidelines of Tokyo 2020. (www.uaenoc.ae)
AFGHANISTAN: Sprinter Kimia Yousofi (left) carries the flag in the opening ceremony. Later she would set a national record of 13.29 seconds for the women’s 100 metres. (Kimia Yousofi Facebook)
PAKISTAN: The Pakistan Olympic Association was proud of the participation of Mahoor Shahzad in the women’s badminton event. “A prolific player and a national champion. May ALLAH bless her with success. We wish her good luck.” (Pakistan Olympic Association Facebook)
SRI LANKA: The distinctive national flag enters the stadium during the parade of athletes. (Photo: National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka Facebook)
TIMOR LESTE: Flying the flag in the Olympic Village. (Laurentino Guterres Facebook with Edha Belo) Page 31
NOC Social Media … NOC Social Media …
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM: The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin, says farewell to the Tokyo-bound delegation at Brunei International Airport. (Photo: Borneo Bulletin)
BANGLADESH: The delegation from the Bangladesh Olympic Association march into the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony. (Photo: AFP)
IRAQ: Welcome Iraq…at the Opening Ceremony on July 23. (Photo: Reuters) Page 32
OMAN: Weightlifter Amur Salim Ramadhan Al-Kanjari competed in the men’s 81kg category and finished 10th with a total lift of 317kg (140kg snatch/177kg clean and jerk). (Photo: Times of Oman)
BHUTAN: Team Bhutan wearing masks donated by Lockill. “Thank you for your generous support!” the BOC posted. (Photo: Bhutan Olympic Committee Facebook)
VIETNAM: Nguyen Thuy Linh (badminton) was one of 18 athletes in 11 sports at Tokyo 2020. She won two out of three group games but lost to Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying. (Photo: Viet Nam News)
NOC Social Media … NOC Social Media …
MALDIVES: His Excellency Ibrahim Uvais, Maldives Ambassador to Japan, visits Team Maldives in the Olympic Village to congratulate the four athletes and wish them all the best for their events. (Photo: Maldives Olympic Committee Facebook)
NEPAL: Olympians Soniya Bhatta (judo) and Kalpana Pariyar (shooting) enjoy their time in the Olympic Village. (Photo: Nepal Olympic Committee Facebook)
LEBANON: The Lebanese Olympic Committee delegation gathers in the Olympic Village to prepare for the Opening Ceremony. (Photo: @lebolympic)
MYANMAR: Thet Htar Thuzar, 22, became the first badminton player from Myanmar to play in the Olympic Games. “What a moment for Myanmar at Tokyo 2020,” said the Badminton World Federation. “Keep the flag flying high, Thet.” This photo attracted over 76,000 Likes on Facebook. (Photo: Myanmar Olympic Committee/Thet Htar Thuzar Facebook)
TAJIKISTAN: Athletes and officials display their attractive team scarf and official uniform at Tokyo 2020. (Photo: @noctj) Page 33
Tokyo 2020 Closing Ceremony August 8, 2021, Olympic Stadium Photos: Li Xin
Red sky at night - Tokyo delight.
There was a white-hot atmosphere inside the Olympic Stadium.
Tokyo Olympics: Green and Clean. Page 34
Tokyo 2020 Closing Ceremony August 8, 2021, Olympic Stadium
(Photos: Li Xin)
IOC President Thomas Bach and Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto give their closing address.
Dancers say farewell to Tokyo 2020.
Olympic Cycle: Acrobatics on two wheels.
The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, waves the IOC flag.
Team Japan enters the stadium. Page 35
OCA Sports Diary
2021 Tokyo, Japan: August 24 – September 5 Paralympic Games
Konya, Turkey: August 9 – 18 5th Islamic Solidarity Games
Athens, Greece: October 24 – 25 ANOC General Assembly/ANOC Awards
Hangzhou, China: September 10 – 25 OCA 19th Asian Games
Shantou, China: November 20 – 28 OCA 3rd Asian Youth Games
Doha, Qatar: November 21 – December 18 FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
Hanoi, Vietnam: November 21 – December 2 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games
2023
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: December 10 – 12 FINA World Aquatics Convention
Nanjing, China: March 17 – 19 World Athletics Indoor Championships 2023
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, December 13 – 18 FINA Swimming World Championships (25m)
Phnom Penh, Cambodia: May 5 – 16 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games
2022
2024
Chandigarh, India: January Commonwealth Archery and Shooting Championships
Gangwon, Korea: Dates to be determined IOC 4th Winter Youth Olympic Games Paris, France: July 26 – August 11 Olympic Games
Beijing, China: February 4 – 20 Olympic Winter Games
2025
Beijing, China: March 4 – 13 Winter Paralympic Games
Tashkent, Uzbekistan: Dates to be determined OCA 4th Asian Youth Games
Bangkok/Chonburi Province, Thailand: March 10 – 20 OCA 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games
2026
Yangzhou, China: March 27 World Athletics Half Marathon Championships Fukuoka, Japan: May 13 – 29 19th FINA World Championships
.T M
MILANO CORTINA 2026
Birmingham, UK: July 28 – August 8 Commonwealth Games
20th Asian Games
Aichi-Nagoya 2026
Milano Cortina, Italy: Dates to be determined Olympic Winter Games Aichi-Nagoya, Japan: September 19 – October 4 OCA 20th Asian Games Dakar, Senegal: Dates to be determined IOC 4th Youth Olympic Games
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