Mumbai: Six-time world champion boxer and 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist MC Mary Kom and men’s hockey team captain Manpreet Singh will be India’s flagbearers at the Tokyo Olympics, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said in a statement.
India will have a 200-strong contingent in the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony with the Games starting on July 23. For the 38-year-old Mary Kom, this will be her second Olympics after failing to qualify for the Rio Games in 2016.
The champion pugilist is the most accomplished Indian sportsperson, having bagged the World Championship multiple times and won a gold (2014) and silver (2020) medal at the Asian Games.
On the other hand, Manpreet will be participating in his third Olympics. He has been captain of the Indian men’s team from 2016 onwards and has been part of the team that won gold at the 2014 Asian Games and two silver medals in the Champions Trophy.
The Indian Olympic Association also confirmed that champion wrestler Bajrang Punia will be the flag-bearer of the Indian contingent at the closing ceremony on August 8. In its statement on Monday, the IOA also gave details of the Indian contingent, which will comprise 126 athletes and 75 officials.
The contingent has bagged 78 quota places and will be competing for 85 medals.
