Paris 2024 Olympics: Sharath Kamal to be India’s flag-bearer; Mary Kom Chef de Mission
Former Winter Olympian Shiva Keshavan will serve as the deputy Chef de Mission while Gagan Narang will be in charge of the Indian shooting team in France.
Veteran table tennis player Sharath Kamal, a two-time Commonwealth Games champion and Khel Ratna awardee, will be India’s flag-bearer at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) announced on Thursday.
The flag-bearer at the Olympic Games is a symbolic leader, who is the first person to march a country’s delegation out during the grand Opening Ceremony parade. The person proudly displays the country’s flag during the parade.
Sharath Kamal will be the 19th flag bearer for India at the Olympics. Athlete Purma Banerjee was India’s first Olympic flag-bearer at Antwerp 1920 while boxing legend Mary Kom and former Indian men’s hockey team captain Manpreet Singh were jointly accorded the honour at Tokyo 2020.
Interestingly, London 2012 bronze medallist Mary Kom, who competed at her final Summer Games in Tokyo, will serve as the Chef de Mission for the Indian contingent to Paris. Luger and Winter Olympian Shiva Keshavan has been appointed the deputy Chef de Mission.
A Chef de Mission is the head of a sports delegation at an international event.
Meanwhile, Gagan Narang, who won a bronze medal in air rifle at London 2012, has been tasked with overseeing India’s operations at the shooting range, which will be far from the main venues.
Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, who has operated upon several Indian Olympians including Neeraj Chopra, has been named Chief Medical Officer. He will be responsible for the health and well-being of Indian athletes at the Games.
India have already secured 19 quotas in shooting for the Paris 2024 Olympics and more are possible. Paris 2024 will see India’s largest-ever shooting contingent in action, eclipsing the 15 from Tokyo.
“We are delighted to have such a distinguished and capable team of officials leading our contingent for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” IOA president PT Usha said about the appointments. “Their expertise, dedication and passion for sports will undoubtedly inspire our athletes to achieve their best and make the nation proud.”