Paris Olympics – Every athlete is India’s pride: PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended his best wishes to the Indian contingent participating in the Paris Olympics and said that every athlete is the pride of India. He said on “

Like Paris #Olympics begins, my best wishes to the Indian contingent. Every athlete is the pride of India. May they all shine and embody the true sporting spirit, inspiring us with their exceptional performances. #Paris2024

-Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2024

The Indian contingent that will participate in the Parade of Athletes during the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games on Friday, led by PV Sindhu and Achanta Sharath Kamal, will feature 78 athletes and officials from 12 sports.
All the athletes who made themselves available for the ceremony will be part of the Parade, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said.

“IOA President PT Usha and Chief of Mission Gagan Narang gave top priority to athletes in the composition of the Athletes’ Parade contingent.” said the IOA.

“Many have competitions on Saturday and the IOA respected their decision to prioritize preparation and not participate in the Opening Ceremony.” Apart from Sindhu and Sharath Kamal, who will be the flag bearers, other prominent athletes include archer Deepika Kumari, boxer Lovlina Borgohain, table tennis player Manika Batra and tennis player Rohan Bopanna.

Rower Balraj Panwar has his race on Saturday morning and therefore does not participate in the Athletes’ Parade. The athletics, weightlifting and wrestling teams have not yet arrived in Paris.

The Indian men’s hockey team also faces New Zealand on Saturday and hence three reserve players will take part in the ceremony.

India is being represented by 117 athletes, including 47 women, in the multi-sport spectacle.

For the first time in Olympic history, the Opening Ceremony will not take place in a stadium, but here on the banks of the River Seine. More than 6,500 athletes in around 90 boats will pass by Paris’ iconic monuments.

Indian players participating in the opening ceremony.

Flag bearers: PV Sindhu (badminton) and Achanta Sharath Kamal (table tennis).

Archery: Deepika Kumari and Tarundeep Rai.

Boxing: Lovlina Borgohain Table tennis: Manika Batra Tennis: Rohan Bopanna, Sumit Nagal and Sriram Balaji.

Filming: Anjum Moudgil, Sift Kaur Samra, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Anish.

Equestrian: Anush Agarwalla Golf: Shubhankar Sharma Hockey: Krishan Pathak, Nilakanta Sharma and Jugraj Singh Judo: Tulika Mann Sailing: Vishnu Saravanan and Nethra Kumanan Swimming: Srihari Nataraj and Dhinidhi Desinghu.

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