Indian badminton star PV Sindhu and table tennis ace Sharath Kamal led the Indian contingent at the unique Parade of Nations on the Seine River during the Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony. The floating spectacle, interspersed with captivating performances, enthralled spectators worldwide. Sindhu and Kamal were visibly elated as they had the privilege of representing India at the start of this global sporting event.
Despite the inclement weather, the Paris Olympics opening ceremony was a dazzling spectacle. Undeterred by the rain, athletes and performers showcased their talents with enthusiasm. India was represented by a 78-member contingent who sailed down the Seine River during the Parade of Nations. Greece, the birthplace of the Olympics, led the procession, which stretched for 6 kilometers along the iconic river. Football legend Zinedine Zidane had earlier brought the Olympic flame from the Stade de France to the Seine, igniting the start of this historic event.
India's badminton and tennis stars, Lakshya Sen and Sumit Nagal, joined the nation's contingent in the spectacular Parade of Nations on the Seine River. Badminton legend Prakash Padukone was also part of the Indian delegation, adding to the country's illustrious presence.
The ceremony featured electrifying performances from global icons like Lady Gaga and French pop sensation Aya Nakamura. The Indian athletes were captivated by the unique experience of participating in this historic event.
Watch Indian contingent's boat parade during Paris Olympics opening ceremony
(Photo Credit-Reuters)
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his best wishes to the Indian contingent ahead of the Paris Olympics. The Indian team subsequently participated in the Parade of Nations, showcasing the nation's pride on the global stage.
INDIAN ATHLETES WHO GRACED PARADE OF NATIONS
Badminton: PV Sindhu
Table Tennis: Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra
Boxing: Lovlina Borgohain
Archery: Deepika Kumari and Tarundeep Rai.
Equestrian: Anush Agarwalla
Golf: Shubhankar Sharma
Hockey: Krishan Pathak, Nilakanta Sharma and Jugraj Singh
Judo: Tulika Mann
Sailing: Vishnu Saravanan and Nethra Kumanan
Shooting: Anjum Moudgil, Sift Kaur Samra, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Anish.
Swimming: Srihari Nataraj and Dhinidhi Desinghu
Tennis: Rohan Bopanna, Sumit Nagal and Sriram Balaji.
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