There were no medals to trigger a frenzy but definitely some top-notch performances that India raised a toast to on day 6 of the Olympic Games, the highlights being the men’s hockey team’s march into the quarters and archer Atanu Das’ stunning triumph over a two-time Olympic champion Korean. A big, big heartbreak was boxing legend MC Mary Kom’s pre-quarterfinal exit despite the fact that the London Olympic bronze-medallist had actually won two of the three rounds in her flyweight (51kg) bout against Colombia’s Ingrit Valencia. Badminton ace PV Sindhu set the tone for the day by advancing to the quarterfinals with a 21-15 21-13 win over Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt. In the boxing ring, India’s first super heavyweight (+91kg) to compete in the Olympics, Satish Kumar, eased into the quarterfinals of his debut Games, defeating Jamaica’s Ricardo Brown in his opening bout.

Indian players during their hockey match against Argentina at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (PTI Photo)
India’s Pusarla Venkata Sindhu plays against Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt in the women’s singles badminton match at the Summer Olympics 2020 in Tokyo.
India’s PV Sindhu plays against Hong Kong China’s Ngan Yi Cheung in the women’s singles badminton match at the Summer Olympics 2020 in Tokyo.
Mary Kom reacts after losing her bout to Ingrit Valencia of Columbia in women’s Fly (48-51kg) boxing Round of 16, at the Summer Olympics 2020 in Tokyo.
Indian Archery player Atanu Das during the mens’ team competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.