New Delhi: PV Sindhu, the two-time Olympic medallist and 2019 World Champion in badminton, will be India’s female flag-bearer for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024, alongside veteran Table Tennis player Sharath Kamal.
Meanwhile, Gagan Narang will take over from MC Mary Kom as the Chef-de-Mission of the Indian contingent. Gagan Narang is a four-time Olympian and 2012 Olympic Games men’s 10m Air Rifle bronze medalist.
Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha in a statement said, “I am also delighted to announce that India’s only woman to win two Olympic medals, PV Sindhu, as the female Flag-bearer alongside Table Tennis ace A Sharath Kamal in the opening ceremony.”
PV Sindhu expressed her excitement on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “One of my life’s greatest honors!”
One of my life’s greatest honors! https://t.co/FR09AaxM5G
— Pvsindhu (@Pvsindhu1) July 8, 2024
PV Sindhu, currently ranked World No. 12, has been the face of Indian badminton for years. The silver medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics against Spain’s Carolina Marin saw her become the first Indian badminton player to reach the final of the showpiece event.
Sindhu in 2019 created history again as she became the first Indian to win the prestigious badminton World Championships since its inception in 1977. She also equalled two-time Olympic gold medallist Zhang Ning’s record of five medals at the event. In Tokyo Olympics, she went on to win a bronze medal making her the first and the only female Indian athlete to win two Olympic medals.
