How did Rahul Rohilla perform at the Tokyo Olympics? A detailed look at the Indian athlete's performance at the previous Olympic Games

Rahul Rohilla was one of the three race walkers to represent India at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the 20 km walk event. However, his campaign did not go as expected.

Rohilla who clocked a timing of 01:32:06, had a disappointing campaign as he finished 47th in the event held under hot and humid conditions. Notably, of the 57 athletes, five did not finish due to disqualification or DNF (Did Not Finish).

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A deeper look at Rahul Rohilla's race-walking career

Rahul Rohilla started his race-walking journey in 2013 at 17 alongside his cousins. Notably, they have also competed in the junior national events. Born in Bahadurgad, Haryana, Rahul grew up in a family that struggled to make ends meet.

Despite the financial hardships, his passion for the sport persisted and he has dreamt of representing the country at the Olympics. After a brief hiatus, he restarted his training seriously in 2016.

Meanwhile, Rahul Rohilla received a major boost to revitalize his athletic career when he joined the Army through the sports quota the very next year. He was recruited to the post of constable in Jabalpur.

He started his career in the 10 km race walk but later transitioned to the 20 km category. He missed the Olympic qualifying mark by less than a minute in 2019.

However, Rahul Rohilla bounced back strongly at the Indian Race Walking Championships in Ranchi in February 2021, thereby securing a spot for the Tokyo Olympics in the very first event.

Hailing from Bahadurgad in Haryana, Rohilla made his cut to Tokyo 2020 by achieving a time of 1:20:26, with the Olympic qualifying mark being one hour and 20 minutes.

Notably, he clinched a silver medal at the national event. Despite enjoying a disappointing campaign, his path to the Olympics is a testament to his tenacious dedication and determination.