Paris, July 25: Indian table tennis veteran Achanta Sharath Kamal and ace shuttler PV Sindhu have expressed their excitement at the honour of being flagbearers for the Indian contingent at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, scheduled for Friday.
Sharath Kamal, who is set to participate in his record fifth Olympics, was selected as India's flagbearer earlier this year in March. Meanwhile, Sindhu was named as the female flagbearer this month, marking a proud moment for both athletes.
"Waiting for July 26 (Friday), when we'll be leading the Indian contingent at the opening ceremony in Paris (Olympics). It's been a moment that I've been dreaming and visualising about, for the last 3-4 months. I'm pretty excited that I'm going to live that moment and especially that I'm going to do that with PV Sindhu. So, it's a fantastic moment, I would say," said Sharath Kamal.
The opportunity comes following a 2020 update to the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) protocol, which now permits one female and one male athlete from each National Olympic Committee (NOC) to bear the flag jointly during the Summer Games' opening ceremony.
Sindhu, India's only female athlete to win multiple Olympic medals, expressed her joy at sharing the role with Sharath Kamal. Sindhu secured a silver medal in the women's singles at the 2016 Rio Olympics and followed it with a bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
"Yes, I'm very happy to be the flagbearer with our fellow Indian, Sharath Kamal. It's a proud moment for both of us and of course, it's a one-time opportunity for anyone to be a flagbearer and representing our country, and it's at the Olympics, standing there, right in the front, holding an Indian flag, it's a very proud moment for both of us and of course he's like a super senior to me. I've known him for a very, very long time, so it's always nice to be holding a flag with fellow Indians," Sindhu shared.
As she heads into her third consecutive Olympics, Sindhu is enthusiastic about the upcoming competition and aims to secure her third consecutive Olympic medal, which would make her the most decorated Indian athlete at the Olympics.
"I am super proud to be here at the Olympic village. This will be my third Olympics, and really excited for the competition to begin. At the same time, I will be the flagbearer for the Indian contingent and I am super proud... I will be holding the bigger flag at the opening ceremony and I hope, with the same excitement, I do well in the competition and get a medal back to India," Sindhu added.
The Paris 2024 Olympics will make history by holding the opening ceremony outside a traditional stadium setting. This unique outdoor event, set along the Seine River, is expected to be the largest opening ceremony in terms of audience and geographical coverage. Nearly 100 boats, carrying an estimated 10,500 athletes, will float along the river during the parade. The larger National Olympic Committees (NOCs) will have dedicated boats, while smaller NOCs will share.
