QUALIFYING CRITERIA

India have high hopes from athletics, shooting, boxing, badminton, wrestling and weightlifting. Here’s a look at the qualifying programme in these sports Total participants:

ATHLETICS

24 Total participants: 24 athletes per division or 16 teams for relays. A country can put up a maximum of three qualified athletes. Qualification period: July 1, 2019 till June 29, 2020 (in all disciplines except 10,000m, marathon and race walks, combined events and relays for which the period will be from Jan 1, 2019 till June 29, 2020) Athletes can qualify in two ways: By virtue of their IAAF World Ranking at the end of the qualification period. By achieving the entry standard (A and B) in the qualification period (only for those that fail to get through rankings). Main hopes: Neeraj Chopra (javelin throw) and Hima Das (women’s 400m).

BADMINTON

172 Total participants Disciplines: Competitions will be held in men’s and women’s singles, men’s & women’s doubles, mixed doubles Qualifying system: Based on their rankings from April 29, 2019 to April 26, 2020, 38 competitors each will be selected for singles and 16 pairs for doubles. The top 16 will get a direct berth (1 per country) while those17 and below will get in once BWF ensures that there is one participant from each continent. The remaining spots will be decided on the basis of rankings. . Main hopes: PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth.

BOXING

There is some uncertainty regarding boxing programme at Tokyo as the International Olympic Committee has frozen the qualification programme after launching an inquiry into governance of Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA). Once it gives a go ahead, qualification programme will be held for eight weight categories for men and five for women.

SHOOTING

360 Total participants: 360 (180 men and women each) Disciplines: Competitions will be held in six individual events each for men and women and three mixed team events. Qualification period: September 1, 2018 to April 30, 2020. Qualification programme: Quota places can be earned through World Championships, World Cups, Continental Championships and designated competitions during this period.

Already qualified: Anjum Moudgil and Apurvi Chandela (women’s 10m air rifle).

Main hopes: Manu Bhaker, Anish Bhanwala, Heena Sidhu, Saurabh Chaudhary, Rahi Sarnobat.

WRESTLING

288 Total participants: 288 in 18 weight categories – 12 men and six women.

Qualification format: Quota places could be earned for the country and not individuals through qualifying tournaments from Jan 1, 2019 till May 3, 2020. India’s main hopes: Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik

WEIGHTLIFTING

198 Total participants: 198 Disciplines: Competition will be held in seven weight categories each for men and women (Maximum eight slots in each section available for one National Olympic Committee).

Qualifying programme: of the 14 contestants allowed for each category eight will qualify through rankings as on April 30, 2020. Five lifters will qualify through the Continental rankings list. One from either the hosts or through tripartite quota. Qualification period: April 1, 2019 to April 30, 2020. One can improve rankings by participating in designated rankings tournaments which are of three types, Gold, Silver and Bronze level. Gold level events include the Continental championships and the 2019 World Championships.

Main hopes:

Meerabai Chanu and Lalrinnunga