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54-member Indian team for Paralympics accorded warm send-off to Tokyo
New Delhi, Aug 12 (Paralympic news) A 54-member Indian team for the upcoming Tokyo Paralympics was on Thursday accorded a warm send-off by Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and the national governing body, with high hopes that the country will return with its best ever performance.
The team has some of the brightest medal prospects like Devendra Jhajharia, seeking his third Paralympics gold (after 2004 and 2016) in F-46 javelin throw, Mariyappan Thangavelu (T-63 high jump) and world champion Sandeep Choudhary (F-64 javelin throw).
India will compete in nine sports.
Mariyappan, who had won a gold in the last edition in Rio, will be the flag bearer of the Indian contingent during the opening ceremony on August 24. The Tokyo Paralympics will end on September 5.
Also read: Eurosport India awarded rights to broadcast Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympic Games
The Tokyo-bound players were part of the event virtually as they are in strict bio-bubble.
"The ambition and self-confidence of our para athletes give inspiration to 1.3 billion Indians. In front of their courage, the biggest of challenges bow. And they deserve every bit of it," Thakur said in a video message.
"The number of our para athletes participating in the upcoming Games is three times bigger than the last edition. I have full faith in your abilities. I believe that your performance too will be better than last time." He said it's a matter of great pride and satisfaction that the para athletes have so far won three Khel Ratna, seven Padma Shri and 33 Arjuna awards.
"It's not easy at all but your hard work, the desire to win and your passion translate all the challenges into triumphs. I know when you go to Tokyo Games, you will go with only one thought -- to better India's ranking in the medals tally from before." Thakur said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done his best to motivate the country's athletes before and during the Tokyo Olympics and will do the same for the para athletes also.
India achieved its best ever performance in the Paralympic Games in the 2016 Rio Games with two gold, one silver and one bronze medal.
PCI president Deepa Malik, who herself had won a silver medal in shot put at Rio 2016 Games, said, "The games will not be the same again after Tokyo2020 Paralympics. We are going to see a record haul of medals as our athletes are in prime form." PCI secretary general Gursharan Singh will be the chef de mission of the Indian team.
Badminton will make its debut at the Paralympic Games, which will feature as many as seven Indian shuttlers.
Indian fans can catch all the Live action of the country's para athletes on Eurosports and DD Sports. PCI has awarded the rights to broadcast the Paralympics live to Eurosport India.
India will start its campaign on August 27, with men's and women's archery events.
News source: PTI
DD Sports to broadcast Tokyo Olympics live, other DD channels, AIR to run special programmes
New Delhi, Jul 21 (Olympics news) DD Sports will broadcast the Tokyo Olympics live daily while other channels of Doordarshan and the All India Radio (AIR) will air special programmes on the mega international sporting event.
The Tokyo Olympics is scheduled to begin on July 23.
"Behold the mega coverage of Olympics 2020, brought to you by Prasar Bharati, through its twin network of Doordarshan and All India Radio, and dedicated sports channel DD Sports," the information and broadcasting ministry said on Wednesday.
The coverage spans from "pre to post-Olympics" and will be available on the public broadcaster's television, radio and digital platforms across the country, it added.
"Different sporting events at the Olympics will be broadcast live daily on DD Sports from 5 am to 7 pm," the ministry said, adding that the "details of the same will be made available every day on DD Sports and AIR Sports Twitter handles".
The ministry said DD Sports will produce a four-hour-plus discussion-based show with sports celebrities as a precursor to the Tokyo Olympics, contributing towards the "Cheer for India" campaign.
This special show will be broadcast live on DD Sports from 11 am to 1 pm on July 22 and July 23, the ministry said.
"Each day, there will be two different sessions with different themes. The two sessions of July 22 will be repeated from 7 pm to 9 pm the same day and from 9 am to 11 am the next day on July 23 on DD Sports," it added.
Also read: Sony Sports channels announce their Live wraparound studio show SPORTS EXTRAAA, and its eminent line-up of panelists for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
According to the programme schedule shared by the ministry, AIR capital stations, the FM Rainbow network, DRM (digital radio of AIR) and other AIR stations will broadcast a curtain-raiser programme on the Tokyo Olympics on July 22.
"The programme will also be carried over Youtube channel, DTH and on NewsonAir mobile app within the territory of India," the ministry said.
While the AIR stations will air daily highlights of the games from July 23 for its listeners, the FM Rainbow network will provide periodic updates from July 24.
"Breaking news may also be broadcast on the FM channels whenever India wins a medal," the ministry said.
All AIR capital stations, the FM Rainbow network, DRM and other radio stations of the public broadcasters will also air "off-tube" commentaries of "select" hockey and badminton matches.
"AIR will broadcast off-tube commentary of quarter-finals and matches for bronze medal only if Indian teams feature in those matches. Broadcast of off-tube commentary of hockey matches is subject to availability of live feed," the ministry said.
News source: PTI