Manu Bhaker to Lead India as Flag Bearer at Paris 2024 Olympics Closing Ceremony

Tags: Sports News

Manu Bhaker has been chosen as India’s flag bearer for the Paris 2024 Olympics Closing Ceremony on August 11.

An Overview of the News

• The 23-year-old Manu Bhaker confirmed the news on her social media page and thanked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for the honor.

Performance and Achievements at Paris 2024

• Paris 2024 marks Manu Bhaker's second appearance at the Summer Games.

• Bhaker won India’s first medal in shooting since London 2012 at Paris 2024.

• She became the first Indian woman to win a medal in shooting and the third Indian post-independence to win two Olympic medals, after Sushil Kumar and PV Sindhu.

• Bhaker opened India’s medal tally with a bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol and won another bronze alongside Sarabjot Singh in the 10m air pistol mixed event.

• She narrowly missed a podium finish in the 25m pistol event, finishing fourth.

Other Indian Athletes and Historical Context

• Wrestler Bajrang Punia was India’s flag-bearer for the Closing Ceremony at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

• For the Opening Ceremony in Paris, PV Sindhu and Sharath Kamal carried India’s flag during the Parade of Nations on the Seine river.

• All three of India’s medals so far at the Paris 2024 Olympics have come from the shooting contingent.

• Swapnil Kusale won a bronze medal in the men’s 50m three-position rifle event.