Image Courtesy- Olympics
London Olympic bronze medalist MC Mary Kom and men’s hockey team captain Manpreet Singh will serve as flag-bearers for India at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics on July 23.
Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia, meanwhile, has been chosen as the flag-bearer for the closing ceremony on August 8, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said on Monday.
“I think it’s a huge honour to be named the flag bearer for the opening ceremony alongside the incredible Mary Kom. I have always been inspired by her journey in boxing and personally, this is a big moment in my career, and it is also a huge moment for hockey,” said Manpreet Singh.
“I am looking forward to the responsibility at the opening ceremony in Tokyo,” he added.
This will be the first time that two Indian flag bearers have appeared at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. 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.
The Indian delegation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will have approximately 120 athletes competing for 85 medal positions. Participants will be accompanied by 75 officials to Japan.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be the second Olympics for Indian boxing ace Mary Kom, and the third Olympics for Manpreet Singh’s.
Manpreet Singh will be the sixth hockey player to carry India’s flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympics. While, Mary Kom will now be the third woman – after Shiny Abraham-Wilson (Barcelona 1992) and Anju Bobby George (Athens 2004) – to carry the flag for India.
Abhinav Bindra, gold-medallist from Beijing 2008, was the flag-bearer for India at the 2016 Rio Olympics opening. Olympic silver medallist shuttler PV Sindhu did the honours in the closing ceremony.