5 records that India can break at Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Less than six months are left for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and the expectations on Indian athletes this time are higher than ever before. Indian sports fans are hoping for a medal haul in digits, and all kinds of records to broken and what not.

Here we take a look at five records that India can realistically achieve in Tokyo:

#1 More than one gold, best ever haul

Till date, India has won a few gold medals at the Olympics, thanks to the golden period of hockey and Abhinav Bindra's individual brilliance at the Beijing Olympics. However, they have never been able to bag more than one gold medal at any standalone Olympics.

This time, though, chances are, India will claim more than one gold with several contenders emerging us favourites to bring the top prize home. In Amit Panghal, Mary Kom, PV Sindhu, Bajrang Punia, Saurabh Chaudhary amongst others, India have many gold medal prospects.

In fact, they might return with their best ever overall medal haul and their best ever finish!

Keep reading to see what other records India can break.

#2 Participation of largest contingent

India men's hockey team (Image: TheHockeyIndia)

At the Rio Olympics, India sent their largest ever contingent comprising of 117 athletes. In Tokyo, however, that record is expected to be shattered with 68 athletes (including members of the men's and women's hockey teams) having already qualified for the Games.

Although India sent their largest ever contingent last time around, their medal haul was nothing to be proud of. In fact, until the very end, India did not have any medals to show. Then, Sakshi Malik and PV Sindhu saved grace by claiming bronze and silver respectively. Hopefully, this time, they will not disappoint.

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#3 Participation in highest number of sports

Fouaad in action (Image: Sportstar)

In all the Olympics that the Indians have taken part in, at the Rio Games in 2016, they took part in 15 different sports. This remains the highest number of sport disciplines in which Indians had qualified to take part in.

While the qualification procedure is still ongoing, it is likely that a new record will be created at the Tokyo Games with Indians making an appearance in at least 15-17 different sports.

India, this time, will have competitors in equestrian (after a gap of 20 years), fencing, sailing — sports in which they did not have representation at the Rio Olympics.

World Records in the next page, continue reading!

#4 World Records in shooting

Shooting is one sport where Indians have always dominated. From the Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore to Abhinav Bindra, India's biggest successes at the Olympics have come through the shooters.

This time also, the tradition is expected to continue with the likes of Saurabh Chaudhary, Manu Bhaker, Apurvi Chandela being firm favourites to bag medals. Not only medals, Saurabh and Apurvi can easily break the world record scores in their respective events. While Saurabh can break the 10m air pistol senior record (he has a personal best of 246.3,World Record is 246.5), Apurvi can better her own World Record in 10m air rifle.

If you love Leander Paes, you should go to the next page.

#5 Highest ever Olympic appearances by any Indian

Leander Paes - (Image - Midday)

Leander Paes is on the verge of appearing in his 7th Olympic Games if he manages to qualify for the Tokyo event.

Till now, Paes, who has enjoyed a long, long career, has played in six Olympics starting with the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. It is a record in itself but luge athlete Shiva Keshavan has also featured in six Olympics, albeit the Winter Games.

However, if Paes does go to Tokyo, he will be the only Indian to have featured seven times at the biggest sporting event. The World Record, though, will still be some way off with Canadian equestrian athlete Ian Millar having competed at ten Olympic Games.