Tokyo Olympics: MC Mary Kom, Manpreet Singh to be India's flag bearers during opening ceremony
The Tokyo Olympics is all set to get underway from July 23. With India being a part of it, it would have twin flag bearers. While MC Mary Kom and Manpreet Singh would be the bearers during the opening ceremony, Bajrang Punia would do so during closing.
FollowThe 2020 Tokyo Olympics gets underway from July 23, as the opening ceremony would be held as usual on the same day. Just like every other team, India would be walking out with its entire contingent during the ceremony, along with flag bearers.
Meanwhile, the Indian Olympic Association has announced the same for both the opening and closing ceremonies. While boxer MC Mary Kom and hockey skipper Manpreet Singh would be the bearers during the opening ceremony, wrestler Bajrang Punia would do so during the closing ceremony.
"It would be a huge huge moment for me given that it is my last Olympics. Who knows I might even get emotionally overwhelmed. I am truly honoured to get this opportunity of leading the team out during the opening ceremony and I thank the sports ministry and IOA for naming me. It would be added motivation for me. I promise to do my best for a medal," said Mary to PTI.
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To have gender parity, it would be the first time that India would have twin flag bearers, informed IOA chief Narinder Batra. During the previous edition in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, India's only gold medalist to date, Abhinav Bindra, was the flag bearer.
The International Olympic Committee decided on twin flag bearers during an executive meeting in 2020. "...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," Thomas Bach (IOC chief) had told back then.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics is taking place after being delayed by a year due to the prevailing COVId-19 pandemic. Although there are still concerns regarding the safety and the healthy well-being of the athletes, the IOA would be sending its entire delegation by completely vaccinating them.
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