Two-time medallist Sindhu named flag bearer
New Delhi, July 8
London Olympics bronze medallist shooter Gagan Narang today replaced Mary Kom as India’s Chef-de-Mission for the Paris Olympics where ace shuttler PV Sindhu will be the female flag bearer during the opening ceremony.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha said the 41-year-old Narang’s elevation from deputy CDM’s position was an automatic choice in the wake of Mary Kom’s resignation.
“I was looking for an Olympic medallist to lead our contingent and my young colleague is an apt replacement for Mary Kom,” PT Usha said in a press release.
Six-time world champion Mary Kom had resigned from the position in April, saying she was left with no choice but to step down owing to compelling personal reasons. She was named CDM by the IOA in March this year.
Chef-de-Mission is an important administrative post responsible for ensuring the welfare of the participating athletes, taking care of their needs and liaising with the organising committee.
Interestingly, Narang was tasked with overseeing India’s operations at the shooting range, which is very far from the main venues. India will field its largest-ever shooting contingent with as many as 21 qualifying for the Games. Now that Narang has been selected for CDM’s role, the IOA will have to find his replacement at the shooting range.
IOA also announced that Sindhu, India’s only woman athlete to win back-to-back Olympics medals, will be the flag bearer of the Indian contingent during the opening ceremony on July 26, alongside ace table tennis player Achanta Sharath Kamal.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), in 2020, had changed its protocol to allow one female and one male athlete of each NOC to bear the flag jointly during the opening ceremony of the Summer Games.
Mary Kom and former hockey skipper Manpreet Singh were the flag bearers at the Tokyo Olympics.
More than 100 athletes have qualified for the Paris Games, starting July 26. “I am confident that our athletes are well prepared to deliver the best results for India,” Usha said.
