Renowned badminton star PV Sindhu and celebrated table tennis player Achanta Sharath Kamal have been chosen to carry India’s flag at the opening ceremony of the upcoming Paris Olympics. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha made the announcement, highlighting Sindhu’s distinction as India’s only woman to have won two Olympic medals. “I am delighted to announce that PV Sindhu will be the female flag-bearer alongside table tennis ace A. Sharath Kamal. I am confident that our athletes are well prepared to deliver the best results for India in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” said Usha.
While the IOA had selected Kamal as the flag bearer back in March, the decision on the female athlete to accompany him was postponed until now.
In 2020, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) updated its protocol, allowing one female and one male athlete from each National Olympic Committee (NOC) to jointly bear the flag during the opening ceremony of the Summer Games.
More than 100 athletes have qualified for the Paris Games, which are set to begin on July 26.
Additionally, Gagan Narang, a veteran of four Olympic Games and a bronze medalist in the men’s 10m Air Rifle event at the 2012 London Olympics, has been named the new Chef-de-Mission for the Indian team at the Paris Olympics Game 2024. Narang will take over the role from MC Mary Kom, who previously held the position.