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New Delhi, July 9 (HS). London Olympics bronze medallist shooter Gagan Narang will be India's chef-de-mission (CDM) for the Paris Olympics, replacing Mary Kom on Monday, while top badminton player PV Sindhu will be the Indian contingent's women's flag bearer during the opening ceremony. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha said promoting 41-year-old Narang from the post of deputy CDM after Mary Kom's resignation was a spontaneous decision.
PT Usha said in a press release, “I was looking for an Olympic medallist to lead my contingent and my young colleague is a suitable replacement for Mary Kom.” Six-time world champion Mary Kom resigned from her post in April, saying she had no choice but to step down due to personal reasons. She was appointed CDM by the IOA in March this year.
The chef-de-mission is an important administrative position as he is responsible for ensuring the welfare of the participating athletes, taking care of their needs and liaising with the organising committee. The IOA also announced that Sindhu, India's only female athlete to win two consecutive Olympic medals, will be the flag-bearer of the Indian contingent during the opening ceremony on July 26, accompanied by table tennis player Achanta Sharath Kamal.
Usha said, “I am also happy to announce that PV Sindhu, India’s only woman to win two Olympic medals, will be the women’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony along with table tennis player A Sharath Kamal.” The IOA had appointed Kamal as the flag bearer in March but delayed the decision to choose a female athlete.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) changed its protocol in 2020 to allow one female and one male athlete from each NOC to jointly carry the flag during the opening ceremony of the Summer Games. Mary Kom and former hockey captain Manpreet Singh were India's flag bearers at the Tokyo Olympics. “I am confident that our athletes are well prepared to deliver the best results for India at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” Usha said.
Over 100 athletes have qualified for the Paris Games, which begin on July 26. Interestingly, Narang, a London Olympics bronze medallist in the men's 10m air rifle event, was tasked with overseeing India's operations at the shooting range, which is far away from the main venues. India will field its biggest shooting contingent ever at the Olympics, with 21 athletes qualifying for the Games. Now that Narang has been chosen for the CDM role, the IOA will have to find his replacement at the shooting range.