Sharath Kamal named India’s men’s flag bearer for Paris Olympics; MC Mary Kom will become head of mission – Firstpost
The IOA is yet to name a flag bearer, but sources said the sporting body would not make any “compromises” on gender equality and would select a female athlete later.
Achanta Sharath Kamal was announced as India’s flag bearer for the opening ceremony of this year’s Summer Olympics in Paris on Thursday, with boxing legend MC Mary Kom set to serve as chef de mission of the Indian contingent.
Sharath Kamal, 41, the reigning Commonwealth Games table tennis champion, symbolizes “the unity and spirit of our contingent as they compete on the Olympic stage”, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said ) in a press release. make the announcement.
The IOA is yet to name a flag bearer, but sources said the sports body will not make any “compromises” on gender equality and will select a female athlete later as many quotas for Games, which begin July 26, have yet to be completed.
“There is no policy change. We will wait for official confirmation of the female athletes’ qualifications before announcing the name. There will be no compromise on this,” the IOA source said.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) modified its protocol in 2020 to allow one female athlete and one male athlete from each NOC to jointly carry the flag during the opening ceremony of the Summer Games.
Mary Kom and former hockey captain Manpreet Singh were India’s flag bearers at the rescheduled Tokyo Games in 2020. Hockey player Harmanpreet Singh and boxer Lovlina Borgohain were India’s flag bearers at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year.
Sharath Kamal expressed his happiness at being selected for this honour.
“It’s been an incredible three weeks. From not even being sure of an Olympic berth to playing like I did in Singapore last week, climbing 54 places in the rankings to being named India’s flag bearer,” Kamal told PTI .
“It is the greatest honor and a fairy tale given that this will be my fifth and last Olympic Games. Moreover, few TT players have achieved this honor in the world. I just got a call from IOA and I couldn’t believe it.
Kamal was India’s flag bearer at the closing ceremony of the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, where he won three gold medals.
Recently, the Indian men’s and women’s team qualified for the team events of the Olympics for the first time thanks to their ranking.
Mary Kom, six-time world champion and bronze medalist at the 2012 London Olympics, will be assisted by luger Shiva Keshavan, appointed deputy chef de mission.
“Mary Kom’s unparalleled dedication to sport and her inspiring journey make her a natural choice to guide and mentor our athletes at the Olympic Games,” the IOA said.
“Keshavan, a former luge Olympian, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to support the team’s management and coordination efforts.”
Gagan Narang, an Olympic bronze medalist in rifle shooting, will oversee Indian operations at the shooting range, which is far away from the main venues.
India will send its largest ever shooting contingent to Paris with 19 quotas already in its pocket.
“His (Narang’s) meticulous approach and understanding of athletes’ needs will ensure a conducive environment for our shooters,” the statement added.
“These appointments represent a blend of experience, expertise and leadership that will significantly contribute to the success of our athletes on the world stage,” the statement added.
Commenting on the appointments, IOA President PT Usha said: “We are delighted to have such a distinguished and capable team of officials leading our contingent for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Their expertise, their dedication and passion for the sport will undoubtedly inspire our athletes to achieve their best and make the nation proud.
With PTI inputs
