First batch of Indian athletes touch down in Tokyo, waited 6 hours at airport before entering the Olympic village
The first batch includes the badminton team, men's and women's hockey team, archery team, table tennis team, swimming, judo and gymnastics teams. Meanwhile, shooters and boxers arrived in the Japanese capital from Croatia and Italy.
The first batch of Indian players and support staff reached Tokyo on Sunday morning to participate in the Olympic Games. The team entered the sports village after following stringent COVID-19 guidelines at the airport.
The Indian players were welcomed at the airport by representatives of Kurobe city. They had banners in his hands that read, 'Kurobe supports Indian players. #Cheers4India.'
A member of this team told PTI, "We had to wait for six hours at the Tokyo airport. We got tested for Covid-19 but it was expected. We have reached the sports Village only after all the tests were administered. "
The Indian contingent reached the sports village on the same day when two players living there and a player staying in a hotel designated for the Olympics tested positive for Covid-19.
The 88-member squad consisted of 54 players and the rest of the support staff.
The first batch includes the badminton team, men's and women's hockey team, archery team, table tennis team, swimming, judo and gymnastics teams. Meanwhile, shooters and boxers arrived in the Japanese capital from Croatia and Italy.
With the cry of Jai Hind, the Indian contingent left for Tokyo from Indira Gandhi Airport on Saturday night. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur encouraged the 88-member Indian contingent to do something in the Tokyo Olympics by cheering Jai Hind at the airport.
Union Minister of I&B and Youth Affairs & Sports Shri @ianuragthakur, in presence of MoS Home Affairs and Youth Affairs & Sports Shri @NisithPramanik wished our Tokyo bound Indian contingent good luck at IGI Airport, Delhi
— SAIMedia (@Media_SAI) July 17, 2021
Here are a few glimpses from the send-off ceremony pic.twitter.com/2DbUlXrg8K
Players like PV Sindhu, Manika Batra, Deepika Kumari, Manpreet Singh became emotional when the staff, air hostess present at the airport greeted them by showing the tricolour and clapping.