Veteran table tennis player Achanta Sharath Kamal and acclaimed badminton star PV Sindhu proudly represented India as flagbearers at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. This grand event, dubbed the “Parade of Nations,” was held along the iconic Seine River in Paris on Saturday, marking a first in Olympic history by not being staged inside a stadium.
India’s athletes showcased their culture through attire designed by renowned fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani. The men wore traditional kurta bundi sets, while the women donned elegant saris. Both outfits featured ikat-inspired prints and Banarasi brocade, reflecting the colors of the Indian tricolour flag.
For Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, this marks her third Olympic appearance. Expressing her excitement, she said, “Being at the Olympic Village is a tremendous honor. This will be my third Olympics, and I’m thrilled to be here. As the flagbearer for the Indian contingent, I’m incredibly proud and hopeful to perform well and bring a medal back to India.”
Sharath Kamal, participating in his fifth and final Olympics, shared his anticipation for the event: “I’ve been dreaming and visualizing this moment for the past few months. It’s exhilarating to live this experience, especially alongside PV Sindhu.”
The unique opening ceremony featured over 1,000 athletes journeying on approximately 100 boats along the Seine, passing by some of Paris’s most iconic landmarks, including Notre Dame, Pont des Arts, and Pont Neuf. The procession began at the Austerlitz bridge near the Jardin des Plantes and concluded at the Trocadéro, where the remaining Olympic protocols and performances took place.
At the previous Tokyo 2020 Olympics, India sent its largest-ever contingent of 124 athletes and achieved a historic haul of seven medals, including a gold in men’s javelin throw by Neeraj Chopra. For the Paris 2024 Games, India has dispatched a strong team of 117 athletes—70 men and 47 women—competing in 69 events across 16 sports, including archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, and more. Among the contingent, tennis legend Rohan Bopanna, 44, is the oldest, while 14-year-old swimmer Dhinidhi Desinghu is the youngest.
The Paris 2024 Olympics promise to be a memorable event, with India aiming to build on its previous successes and make its mark on the global stage.