India at Tokyo Olympics: 16 interesting details you must know

The delayed 2020 edition of the Olympics, the world's greatest sports extravaganza, gets underway on Friday evening. Here's what you should know about India's participation in the Games.

The delayed 2020 edition of the Olympics, the world's greatest sports extravaganza, gets underway on Friday evening. The opening ceremony will be held at the newly-built National Stadium in the Japanese capital, will be a scaled-down and sobering affair in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only six officials from every country are allowed at the ceremony, although there is no cap on athletes. But fans will see a much smaller team parade taking place this time. Here are some important facts that you must know:

The delayed 2020 edition of the Olympics, the world's greatest sports extravaganza, gets underway on Friday evening. The opening ceremony will be held at the newly-built National Stadium in the Japanese capital, will be a scaled-down and sobering affair in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only six officials from every country are allowed at the ceremony, although there is no cap on athletes. But fans will see a much smaller team parade taking place this time. Here are some important facts that you must know:

* Six-time world boxing champion MC Mary Kom and men's hockey team captain Manpreet Singh will be India's flag-bearers at the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony.

* India has been designated serial number 21 in the march past, as per the Japanese alphabet. 

* India has sent its largest-ever contingent -- it is 228-member strong.

* The Indian contingent includes 127 athletes hailing from 22 states who will participate across 18 disciplines.

* The delegation includes 68 male athletes, 52 female athletes, 58 team officials, 43 alternate athletes and other officials of 8 contingent staff, apart from coaches, team officials and others.

* Indian athletes will be in contention for 85 medal possibilities.

* For the first time in its history, a fencer from India (Bhavani Devi) has qualified for the Olympic Games. 

* Nethra Kumanan is the first-ever female sailor from India to qualify for an Olympic Games. 

* Vishnu Saravanan (radial class) and KC Ganapathy-Varun Thakkar (men's 49er) will be competing in their first Olympics.

* Sajan Prakash and Srihari Nataraj are the first swimmers from India to qualify for the Olympic Games.

* India will compete in the equestrian event at Olympics for the first time in two decades. Fouaad Mirza will be seen in action.

* Five athletes from the Indian Army are participating in the Tokyo Olympics. These include Amit Panghal (Boxing), Manish Kaushik (Boxing), Satish Kumar (Boxing), Avinash Sable (Athletics) and Neeraj Chopra (Athletics).

* Three athletes from the Indian Navy will compete in the Tokyo Olympics. These include Tajinderpal Singh Toor (Men's Shotput), MP Jabir (Men's 400m Hurdles) and Muhammad Anas Yahiya (Men's 4x400m Relay).

* Four athletes from the Indian Air Force will be seen in action after a gap of 25 years at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. These include Shivpal Singh (Javelin), Noah Nirmal Tom (4X400m Mixed Relay), Deepak Kumar (Shooting), Alex Antony (4X400m Mixed Relay).

* Ashok Kumar will be the first Indian referee who would be officiating in back to back Olympic Games. He was United World Wrestling as a referee to officiate in the wrestling competition of the Games. 

* Wrestler Bajrang Punia will be the flag bearer at the Olympics closing ceremony.