Indian Olympic contingent returns from Tokyo! Nation lays out red carpet, felicitated in grand ceremony by govt – PHOTOS

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India's triumphant Olympic contingent, including history-making javelin throw gold-medallist Neeraj Chopra, returned to the country on Monday and was greeted by frenzy and chaos at the airport where supporters jostled to catch a glimpse of their sporting heroes. The athletes were welcomed by a Sports Authority of India (SAI) delegation headed by its Director General Sandeep Pradhan, who was accompanied by Athletics Federation of India head Adille Sumariwala. Olympic medal-winners were accorded a grand welcome by the government in a dazzling felicitation ceremony with sports minister Anurag Thakur saying that their journey is an "incredible story of resilience and sporting excellence". Let us take a look at some of the images:

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The spotlight, however, is bound to target Chopra, whose gold was India's first in 13 years overall and the first ever in the track and field events. (PTI Photo)

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Olympic bronze medalist Bajrang Punia being welcomed as he arrives at IGI Airport, after the end of the Tokyo Summer Olympics 2020, in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

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The 23-year-old Army man, Neeraj Chopra, is also an Asian and Commonwealth Games champion and bossed the field with a throw of 87.58m in the finals to comfortably claim the gold in Tokyo. (PTI Photo)

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Indian women's hockey team and other athletes arrive after the end of the Tokyo Olympics, at IGI Airport in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

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Waving the tri-colour, people danced to the beat of the dhol and live band, sang and screamed their lungs out to show their appreciation for the medal winners. (PTI Photo)

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Tokyo Olympics medalists Bajrang Punia, Lovlina Borgohain, Neeraj Chopra, Ravi Dahiya and Manpreet Singh, during their felicitation ceremony, in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

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Bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain being welcomed on her arrival at IGI Airport, after the end of the Tokyo Summer Olympics 2020, in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

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Union Ministers Anurag Thakur, Kiren Rijiju and MoS Nisith Pramanik with Tokyo Olympics athletes during their felicitation ceremony, in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

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Union Ministers Anurag Thakur and Kiren Rijiju felicitate Bronze medalist in Tokyo Olympics, hockey captain Manpreet Singh during a ceremony, in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

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Union Ministers Anurag Thakur and Kiren Rijiju with Gold medalist in Tokyo Olympics, athlete Neeraj Chopra during his felicitation ceremony, in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

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People hold a poster to welcome Gold medalist athlete Neeraj Chopra on his arrival at IGI Airport, after the end of the Tokyo Summer Olympics 2020, in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

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Anurag Thakur and Kiren Rijiju felicitate Bronze medalist in Tokyo Olympics, wrestler Bajrang Punia during a ceremony, in New Delhi. MoS for Home Affairs Nisith Pramanik is also seen. (PTI Photo)

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Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports Anurag Thakur felicitates Silver medalist in Tokyo Olympics, wrestler Ravi Dahiya during a ceremony, in New Delhi. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju is also seen. (PTI Photo)

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Gold medal winning javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was the cynosure of all eyes in the ceremony, held a couple of hours after the seven podium finishers made their way out of the airport amid utter chaos. (PTI Photo)