The Tokyo Olympics are knocking at the door and Indian athletes are ready to express themselves at the biggest stage. A lot of athletes have earned their right to make their nation proud at the Summer Games but only a few chosen ones get to hoist the nation’s flag at the opening ceremony.
India have selected not one but two flag bearers at the Olympics opening event. It features legendary pugilist MC Mary Kom and Indian Men’s Hockey team captain Manpreet Singh, it was announced by the Indian Olympics Association (IOA) on Monday.
At the IOA executive board meeting, it was decided that India will choose one flagbearer from each gender to stand with diversity. They always wanted to set an example to the world as they have always p[reached the notion of equality.
“The IOC Executive Board also decided that there should be – for the first time ever – at least one female and one male athlete in every one of the 206 teams and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team participating at the Games of the Olympiad,” IOC chief Thomas Bach had said.
“The flag-bearers for the Indian contingent of Tokyo 2020 for the opening ceremony on July 23rd are Mary Kom and Manpreet Singh,” President of the Indian Olympic Association, Narinder Batra said in an official letter.
“The flagbearer for the Indian contingent at the closing ceremony on August 8 will be Bajrang Punia,” he further stated.
Batra also confirmed a huge set of athletes travelling to the Tokyo Olympics. The number ranges around 201 members in total out of which only 126 are athletes and 75 are officials travelling with the players. They will have a more or less even representation in terms of gender with 56% men and 44% female athletes. Indian overall will be looking to fight for 85 medal positions. The Indian contingent will be hoping to make people forget the wounds from2016 Rio Olympics. Abhinav Bindra was the flagbearer in the 2016 Rio Olympics. However, in addition to all of this star Wrestler Bajrang Punia will be flag-bearer for the closing ceremony in Tokyo 2020.The Tokyo Games will commence from July 23 and run till August 7 this year.
