PV Sindhu and Achanta Sharath Kamal lead the way for Team India’s arrival in Paris in style – Firstpost
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Star paddler Sindhu, who won silver at Rio 2016 and bronze at Tokyo 2020, has been chosen as India’s flag bearer along with veteran paddler Sharath Kamal, who is making his fifth – and likely last – Olympic appearance.
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Double Olympic medallist Pusarla Venkata Sindhu and table tennis icon Achanta Sharath Kamal led the 117-strong Indian contingent at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024 on Friday.
Star paddler Sindhu, who won silver in Rio 2016 and bronze in Tokyo 2020, has been chosen as India’s flag bearer along with veteran paddler Sharath Kamal, who is making his fifth – and likely last – appearance at the world’s biggest multi-sport event.
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Friday’s opening ceremony, which took place in torrential rain in the French capital, was historic because it was the first time the event had been held outside the Olympic stadium.
Instead of parading inside the stadium, national delegations were introduced one by one in a parade of boats on the Seine that culminated at the iconic Eiffel Tower. In keeping with Olympic custom, the parade began with Greece and ended with host country France.
The Indians were the 84th nation to march, after Hungary, followed by Indonesia, Iran and Iraq.
Watch India’s Boat Parade at the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony here:
These smiles carry the dreams and aspirations of a billion Indians for glory.
The Indian contingent officially arrived at #Opening ceremony of #Paris2024! 😍#OlympicsOnJioCinema #OlympicsOnSports18 #JioCinemaSports #Cheer4Bharat pic.twitter.com/wANFvex4SC
— Sports18 (@Sports18) July 26, 2024
The Indian contingent wore smart white outfits for the parade of nations. While the male athletes wore kurtas with saffron and green bordered jackets to highlight the national flag, the female athletes were dressed in saris that also featured the tricolour.
And here we are, ready for the Opening Ceremony! Tune in for a unique ceremony, a first for the Summer Olympics where the ceremony will take place outside a stadium! The athletes’ parade will take place on the Seine!
Let’s cheer loudly for our athletes! Chalo #JeetKiAur#Cheer4Bharat pic.twitter.com/KQjzd4axvF— Team India (@WeAreTeamIndia) July 26, 2024
Paris 2024, flag bearer — one of the greatest honors of my life to carry the flag of our country in front of millions of people ❤️ pic.twitter.com/4VPc9FFuIz
— Pvsindhu (@Pvsindhu1) July 26, 2024
The Indian team has 117 athletes in 16 sports, the same number as at Rio 2016, although it is hoping for much more than the two medals it won eight years ago.
The Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 took place in torrential rain to provide a spectacular spectacle and kick off the 33rd Summer Olympic Games in style. The event brought together some of the world’s top artists including Celine Dion, Lady Gaga and Aya Nakamura, as well as French metal band Gojira, while sporting legends including Zinedine Zidane, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Amélie Mauresmo then took part in the final leg of the torch relay.
The opening ceremony was also punctuated by other acts highlighting important historical events such as the French Revolution. Landmarks such as Notre Dame Cathedral, which is currently undergoing repairs since a terrible fire in 2019, were also highlighted during the ceremony.
The event ended with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron which served as the base of a hot air balloon, allowing the whole thing to take off shortly afterwards.
