India's hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh will join shooting sensation Manu Bhaker as the flagbearer of the Indian contingent in the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics on Sunday. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) announced the development on Friday. "The Indian Olympic Association is delighted to announce the nomination of hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh as the joint flag-bearer with pistol shooter Manu Bhaker at the Closing Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games," the IOA said in a statement.
IOA President PT Usha said Sreejesh was "both an emotional and popular choice within the IOA leadership."
Seejesh had a superb campaign in Paris and was a vital cog in helping India to a bronze medal finish in men's hockey at the Paris Games. India's bronze medal match against Spain, which the former won 2-1, was his final outing in Indian colours as he retires with two Olympic bronze.
Meanwhile, Manu, who failed to win a medal three years ago in Tokyo, created history by winning two bronze medals at the Paris Games.
Manu opened India's medal account at the ongoing Games after securing a bronze in the individual 10m air pistol event. The feat saw her become the first markswoman from the country to win an Olympic medal. Three days later, she added another bronze to India's tally, this time in the 10m air pistol mixed team event. She and Sarabjot Singh combined to beat the South Koreans in the bronze medal match, making her the first Indian to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics.
Manu came very close to winning her third Olympic medal but had to be content with a fourth-place finish in the 25m pistol final.
India's star shuttler PV Sindhu and veteran paddler Sharath Kamal were the country's flagbearer at the opening ceremony. Sindhu crashed out of the Olympics round of 16 stage after conceding a straight games loss against China's He Bing Jiao, who won silver medal in women's singles badminton. Sharath, on the other hand, endured a shocking opening round loss against a much lower ranked opponent in the men's singles table tennis competition.
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