Mary Kom, Manpreet Singh to be India’s flag-bearers at Tokyo Olympics
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New Delhi, July 6: MC Mary Kom, the six-time world boxing champion, and Manpreet Singh, the men’s hockey team skipper, will be India’s flag-bearers at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics, announced Indian Olympic Association (IOA). Wrestler Bajrang Punia will be the flagbearer at the closing ceremony.
"The flagbearers for the Indian contingent of Tokyo 2020 for the opening ceremony on July 23rd are Mary Kom and Manpreet Singh. The flagbearer for the Indian contingent at the closing ceremony on August 8 will be Bajrang Punia," IOA President Narinder Batra said in an official letter.
“I am very happy about being given this opportunity to be the flagbearer. I want to thank each and everyone, SAI, IOA, Sports Ministry, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It's not easy for everyone to be given this opportunity. I don't have words to express my happiness because this will be my last Olympics and being the flag bearer, it's a really big thing. Yes, expectations give pressure it's not easy to tackle it but how to handle that pressure, I have learnt," Mary Kom said.
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“This is amazing, and I am speechless. I think it's a huge honour to be named the flagbearer for the opening ceremony alongside the incredible Mary Kom. I have always been inspired by her journey in boxing and personally for me, this is a big moment in my career, and it is also a huge moment for hockey. I thank the Indian Olympic Association for this great opportunity, and I am looking forward to the responsibility at the Opening Ceremony in Tokyo," Manpreet Singh said.
It would be the first time that India is having two flag-bearers who are one male and one female at the upcoming Tokyo Games to ensure gender equality. The IOA has communicated the decision in this regard to the Organising Committee of the Games. "The IOC Executive Board 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," chief Thomas Bach had said.
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The Tokyo Games are scheduled to take place from July 23 till August 8. Batra also confirmed that the total contingent for the Olympics would be around 126 athletes and 75 officials, and as a result, the total contingent would be around 201. The contingent comprises 56 percent of men and 44 per cent of women. It has 76 quota places and will compete in about 85 medal positions.