Tokyo Olympics: US tops medal table, India finish with best-ever tally

The USA once again topped the Olympic medal tally with a total of 113 medals, including 38 Golds at the Tokyo 2020 Games. The USA was involved in a two-way battle with China on the final day of the Olympics. In fact, the Americans trailed the Chinese for the most part of the Tokyo Olympics only to race past their arch-rivals on August 8. China was leading 38-36 as the action headed to the final day but with 3 gold medals, USA piped China in one of the closest races for the Olympic top spot in the history of the Games. Unfortunately, China did not have any gold medal matches on the final day.

USA registered its first gold medal on the final day when its women's basketball team beat Japan in the final. The second gold came from cyclist Jennifer Valente while the decisive podium finish came after the US women's volleyball team scripted history by winning its first-ever Olympic gold. USA's medal tally slipped considerably from the Rio Games. While they had won 46 gold medals in 30 fewer events in 2016, only 39 came in Tokyo as the country slipped in track events with none of its men winning gold medals - a first in modern Olympic history. Simone Biles's withdrawals also influenced the medal tally of the USA.

Tokyo Olympics kick started in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic after having been delayed by a year. Until the opening ceremony, which was held on July 23, there were protests against hosting the Games, fearing a rise in Covid-19 cases. However, the authorities were able to manage the Games without any major incidents despite a few Games-related cases cropping up. The Tokyo Olympics did show that Covid-19 can be kept at bay while hosting major multi-national tournaments.