<p>Japan concluded the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with a record haul of 27 gold medals, far exceeding the previous high of 16 at the 2000 Athens Olympics.</p>.<p>Mitsugi Ogata, general manager for Japan's national delegation, lauded the athletes on Sunday, saying he was "happy we could deliver some uplifting news".</p>.<p>There were concerns about the Games being written off as "unnecessary" amid a pandemic, but with the performances of the Japanese athletes, organisers "have gradually gained the understanding of the public", he said at a news conference.</p>.<p>Japan's total medal tally stands at 58, also a record and more than the previous high of 37 medals at Athens.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/italy-basks-in-tokyo-games-medal-glory-as-covid-19-gamble-pays-off-1017436.html" target="_blank">Read | Italy basks in Tokyo Games medal glory as Covid-19 gamble pays off</a></strong></p>.<p>That includes medals in surfing and climbing and a gold for Tokyo local Yuto Horigome - all three among sports that made their Olympics debut in Tokyo.</p>.<p>Japan also steadily clocked up medals in judo, with Uta and Hifumi Abe becoming the first siblings in Olympic history to win gold medals on the same day.</p>.<p>Initial projections by data company Gracenote had pegged Japan's expected medal haul this year at 60.</p>.<p>Japan also faced some big disappointments as tennis star and top medal contender Naomi Osaka got knocked out in the third round of the competition, a few days after she stood in the spotlight lighting the Olympic torch at the opening ceremony.</p>.<p>Also in golf, high-profile Hideki Matsuyama failed to bag a bronze at the men's competition.</p>.<p>While most of the public remained opposed to the Games this year, after they were postponed in 2020 due to Covid-19, the IOC has touted the high TV viewership to show the Japanese public's support of the event.</p>.<p>TV ratings for a football semi-final between Japan and Spain at one point soared to 43 per cent, according to the daily Yomiuri.</p>.<p>Organisers have also hailed their success in preventing a Covid-19 superspreader event among Olympic staff and athletes.</p>.<p>However, daily coronavirus cases in the host city have ballooned during the Games, exceeding previous highs and at one point reaching over 5,000 cases.</p>
<p>Japan concluded the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with a record haul of 27 gold medals, far exceeding the previous high of 16 at the 2000 Athens Olympics.</p>.<p>Mitsugi Ogata, general manager for Japan's national delegation, lauded the athletes on Sunday, saying he was "happy we could deliver some uplifting news".</p>.<p>There were concerns about the Games being written off as "unnecessary" amid a pandemic, but with the performances of the Japanese athletes, organisers "have gradually gained the understanding of the public", he said at a news conference.</p>.<p>Japan's total medal tally stands at 58, also a record and more than the previous high of 37 medals at Athens.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/italy-basks-in-tokyo-games-medal-glory-as-covid-19-gamble-pays-off-1017436.html" target="_blank">Read | Italy basks in Tokyo Games medal glory as Covid-19 gamble pays off</a></strong></p>.<p>That includes medals in surfing and climbing and a gold for Tokyo local Yuto Horigome - all three among sports that made their Olympics debut in Tokyo.</p>.<p>Japan also steadily clocked up medals in judo, with Uta and Hifumi Abe becoming the first siblings in Olympic history to win gold medals on the same day.</p>.<p>Initial projections by data company Gracenote had pegged Japan's expected medal haul this year at 60.</p>.<p>Japan also faced some big disappointments as tennis star and top medal contender Naomi Osaka got knocked out in the third round of the competition, a few days after she stood in the spotlight lighting the Olympic torch at the opening ceremony.</p>.<p>Also in golf, high-profile Hideki Matsuyama failed to bag a bronze at the men's competition.</p>.<p>While most of the public remained opposed to the Games this year, after they were postponed in 2020 due to Covid-19, the IOC has touted the high TV viewership to show the Japanese public's support of the event.</p>.<p>TV ratings for a football semi-final between Japan and Spain at one point soared to 43 per cent, according to the daily Yomiuri.</p>.<p>Organisers have also hailed their success in preventing a Covid-19 superspreader event among Olympic staff and athletes.</p>.<p>However, daily coronavirus cases in the host city have ballooned during the Games, exceeding previous highs and at one point reaching over 5,000 cases.</p>
