Sports

Manu Bhaker, Double Bronze Medallist, Named India’s Flag Bearer for Paris Olympics 2024 Closing Ceremony

The closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics will include Manu Bhaker, the country’s top shooter, as the flag carrier. With his two bronze medals in Paris, the 22-year-old shooter wrote the history for India. Bronze in the individual 10m air pistol event marked Manu’s first medal for India. She achieved an Olympic medal as the first female shooter for India. As Vijay Kumar and Gagan Narang were the final shooters to place on the podium at the 2012 London Olympics, she put an end to India’s 12-year medal drought in the sport. Together with Sarabjot Singh, Bhaker took home a medal in the solo event before capturing the mixed team bronze in the 10m air pistol. She made Olympic history as the first Indian woman to win multiple medals in one competition.

“Yes, Manu has been selected to carry the flag. She deserves the honor because she has performed incredibly well,” an IOA official said. The Haryana shooter, 22, had previously declared that it would be an honor to represent India as its flag carrier. “There are many in the contingent who are more deserving but it will be a real honour, if I am asked to,” Manu had stated. There are still a few events to go where India has a good possibility of winning additional medals, hence the IOA has not decided on a male flag bearer yet. This decision may be made in the weeks to come.

Though one is expected to be announced in the next several days, IOA has not yet designated a male flag bearer. Swapnil Kushale, another shooter, won bronze in the men’s 50m rifle three positions, adding to Manu’s two medals. Lakshya Sen, the best shuttler in India, will play for the bronze medal on Monday after falling to Viktor Axelsen in the quarterfinal. The Indian men’s hockey team advanced to the semi-finals and took a step closer to capturing a medal after defeating Great Britain on penalties.

Also Read: India Aims for Olympic Glory as Lakshya Sen Faces Viktor Axelsen in Semifinal

On August 6, the reigning Olympian Neeraj Chopra will start his javelin throw campaign. Star shuttler PV Sindhu and seasoned table tennis player Sharath Kamal earlier led the contingent of 78 Indian athletes carrying the national flag during the Parade of Nations during the Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony at the Seine River.