Bhubaneswar: The Tokyo Olympics, which had to be postponed last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is finally knocking on the door.
Competition will get underway on July 21 (Wednesday), with baseball and women’s football matches. But the Games will be formally inaugurated two days later, with the Opening Ceremony taking place on July 23 (Friday).
People in Odisha will be keenly looking forward to athletics and hockey, thanks to the presence of stars from their state in those disciplines.
Athletics events will begin on July 30, and Dutee Chand will be in action on the very first day. She will feature in one of the seven women’s 100m first round heats to be held from 8.10 am to 8.58 am (Indian time).
On July 31, Dutee should be back on track at the Olympic Stadium for the women’s 100m semifinals, unless she is eliminated in the first round. The three semifinal races are scheduled to be held from 3.45 pm to 4 pm.
And if she qualifies, with the prayers of Lord Jagannath, and entire Odisha and India, Dutee will line up for the women’s 100m final the same evening at 6.20 pm.
After a day’s rest, India’s ace female sprinter will take part in women’s 200m first-round heats, which have been scheduled between 7 am and 7.48 am on August 2. The semifinal races will be held the same day, between 3.55 pm and 4.09 pm.
The women’s 200m final has been slated at 6.20 pm on August 3.
India’s hockey fortunes will also be closely followed by Odias as there are two players each in the men’s (Birendra Lakra and Amit Rohidas) and women’s (Deep Grace Ekka and Namita Toppo) teams.
Both the men and women will kick off their Olympic campaign on July 24, with matches against New Zealand and Netherlands, respectively.
Odisha will have another representative at Tokyo, para shuttler Pramod Bhagat in the Paralympics which will be held after the Olympics end.
The Olympics can be watched live on different channels of Sony Sports Network.
NOTE DOWN KEY TV TIMINGS (IN IST)
Opening ceremony: July 23 – from 4.30 pm
Dutee Chand, women’s 100m, round 1 Heats: July 30 – between 8.10 am and 8.58 am
Dutee Chand, women’s 100m Semifinals (if she qualifies): July 31 – between 3.45 pm and 4 pm
Dutee Chand, women’s 100m Final (if she qualifies): July 31, 6.20 pm
Dutee Chand, women’s 200m, round 1 Heats: Aug 2 – between between 7 am and 7.48 am
Dutee Chand, women’s 200m, Semifinals (if she qualifies): Aug 2 – between 3.55 pm and 4.09 pm
Dutee Chand, women’s 200m, Final (if she qualifies): Aug 3 – 6.20 pm
Men’s hockey, India vs New Zealand: July 24 – 6.30 am
Women’s hockey, India vs Netherlands: July 24 – 5.15 pm
Men’s hockey, India vs Australia: July 25 – 3 pm
Women’s hockey, India vs Germany: July 26 – 6.45 pm
Men’s hockey, India vs Spain: July 27 – 6.30 am
Women’s hockey, India vs Britain: July 28 – 6.30 am
Men’s hockey, India vs Argentina: July 29 – 6 am
Women’s hockey, India vs Ireland: July 30 – 8.15 am
Men’s hockey, India vs Japan: July 30 – 3 pm
Women’s hockey, India vs South Africa: July 31 – 8.45 am
Men’s hockey, Quarterfinals (if India qualifies) – Aug 1
Women’s hockey, Quarterfinals (if India qualifies) – Aug 2
Men’s hockey, Semifinals (if India qualifies) – Aug 3
Women’s hockey, Semifinals (if India qualifies) – Aug 4
Men’s hockey, Bronze playoff and Final (if India qualifies) – Aug 5
Women’s hockey, Bronze playoff and Final (if India qualifies) – Aug 6.
Closing ceremony: August 8 – from 4.30 pm.
