<p>India's Olympic medal-winners were accorded a grand welcome by the government in a dazzling felicitation ceremony here on Monday with sports minister Anurag Thakur saying that their journey is an "incredible story of resilience and sporting excellence".</p>.<p>Gold medal winning javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was the cynosure of all eyes in the ceremony at a five star hotel here, held a couple of hours after the seven podium finishers made their way out of the airport amid utter chaos.</p>.<p>At the felicitation ceremony, they were presented mementos and shawls by the minister.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/indias-history-making-olympic-contingent-returns-from-tokyo-to-frenzy-chaos-1017941.html" target="_blank">India's history-making Olympic contingent returns from Tokyo to frenzy, chaos</a></strong></p>.<p>Both the bronze-winning men's hockey team and fourth-place finishing women's team cut cakes after arriving at the hotel.</p>.<p>"We all come from middle-class families and support of the families is essential," Chopra said after being felicitated by Thakur.</p>.<p>While Chopra added the golden sheen to the campaign, the silver medals came from weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya.</p>.<p>"It feels great, I would like to thank the government, SAI and IOA for helping us during our quarantine time. They gave us all the support," said men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh.</p>.<p>The bronze medals, apart from the men's hockey team, were claimed by boxer Lovlina Borgohain, shuttler P V Sindhu, and wrestler Bajrang Punia.</p>.<p>"I am very happy to be back home. I knew India is very happy but after coming back here, to get this love first hand, it feels really nice. I would try to do my best for more such medals," Borgohain said.</p>.<p>Sindhu and Chanu did not attend the ceremony as they had arrived earlier and are currently at their home bases.</p>.<p>"I only tried to give my best," said Punia, who fought through his semifinals without any protective gear on his injured knee.</p>.<p>Among those present on the occasion to felicitate the medal winners also included Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju, Secretary (Sports) Ravi Mittal and Director-General of Sports Authority of India Sandip Pradhan.</p>.<p>"Tokyo 2020 was an Olympic Games of many firsts for India. The success of Team India at the Olympics is a reflection of how New India desires and aspires to dominate the world…even in sports," Thakur said.</p>.<p>"The Olympic Games showed us that with self-discipline and dedication we can be champions. Team India excelled and inspired while Indians cheered and celebrated all around.</p>.<p>"Truly sports is a great unifier as our athletes come from villages and cities, north to south, from east to west. Their journey is an incredible story of resilience and sporting excellence," he added.</p>.<p>There were many firsts in India's campaign, including the biggest ever 128-member athlete contingent, seven Olympic Medals, first Olympic gold medal in an athletics event, two successive medals in consecutive Games by Sindhu, and a medal(bronze) by the Indian men's team in hockey after a gap of 41 years.</p>.<p>Also, the women's hockey team achieved its best ever fourth place finish in the Games.</p>.<p>"We will continue to support our sports persons and we endeavour to make India a sporting powerhouse," Thakur said.</p>.<p>The minister also lauded some close finishes including the fourth place finish by golfer Aditi Ashok.</p>.<p>Thakur's predecessor Rijiju praised the performances of all the athletes and reiterated that India will be a force to reckon with by the 2028 Olympics.</p>.<p>"This is just the beginning because India's resurgence in sport is visible now and I am confident that by 2028 Olympics India will be a force to reckon with,” Rijiju mentioned.</p>
<p>India's Olympic medal-winners were accorded a grand welcome by the government in a dazzling felicitation ceremony here on Monday with sports minister Anurag Thakur saying that their journey is an "incredible story of resilience and sporting excellence".</p>.<p>Gold medal winning javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was the cynosure of all eyes in the ceremony at a five star hotel here, held a couple of hours after the seven podium finishers made their way out of the airport amid utter chaos.</p>.<p>At the felicitation ceremony, they were presented mementos and shawls by the minister.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/indias-history-making-olympic-contingent-returns-from-tokyo-to-frenzy-chaos-1017941.html" target="_blank">India's history-making Olympic contingent returns from Tokyo to frenzy, chaos</a></strong></p>.<p>Both the bronze-winning men's hockey team and fourth-place finishing women's team cut cakes after arriving at the hotel.</p>.<p>"We all come from middle-class families and support of the families is essential," Chopra said after being felicitated by Thakur.</p>.<p>While Chopra added the golden sheen to the campaign, the silver medals came from weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya.</p>.<p>"It feels great, I would like to thank the government, SAI and IOA for helping us during our quarantine time. They gave us all the support," said men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh.</p>.<p>The bronze medals, apart from the men's hockey team, were claimed by boxer Lovlina Borgohain, shuttler P V Sindhu, and wrestler Bajrang Punia.</p>.<p>"I am very happy to be back home. I knew India is very happy but after coming back here, to get this love first hand, it feels really nice. I would try to do my best for more such medals," Borgohain said.</p>.<p>Sindhu and Chanu did not attend the ceremony as they had arrived earlier and are currently at their home bases.</p>.<p>"I only tried to give my best," said Punia, who fought through his semifinals without any protective gear on his injured knee.</p>.<p>Among those present on the occasion to felicitate the medal winners also included Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju, Secretary (Sports) Ravi Mittal and Director-General of Sports Authority of India Sandip Pradhan.</p>.<p>"Tokyo 2020 was an Olympic Games of many firsts for India. The success of Team India at the Olympics is a reflection of how New India desires and aspires to dominate the world…even in sports," Thakur said.</p>.<p>"The Olympic Games showed us that with self-discipline and dedication we can be champions. Team India excelled and inspired while Indians cheered and celebrated all around.</p>.<p>"Truly sports is a great unifier as our athletes come from villages and cities, north to south, from east to west. Their journey is an incredible story of resilience and sporting excellence," he added.</p>.<p>There were many firsts in India's campaign, including the biggest ever 128-member athlete contingent, seven Olympic Medals, first Olympic gold medal in an athletics event, two successive medals in consecutive Games by Sindhu, and a medal(bronze) by the Indian men's team in hockey after a gap of 41 years.</p>.<p>Also, the women's hockey team achieved its best ever fourth place finish in the Games.</p>.<p>"We will continue to support our sports persons and we endeavour to make India a sporting powerhouse," Thakur said.</p>.<p>The minister also lauded some close finishes including the fourth place finish by golfer Aditi Ashok.</p>.<p>Thakur's predecessor Rijiju praised the performances of all the athletes and reiterated that India will be a force to reckon with by the 2028 Olympics.</p>.<p>"This is just the beginning because India's resurgence in sport is visible now and I am confident that by 2028 Olympics India will be a force to reckon with,” Rijiju mentioned.</p>