In a monumental decision the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has announced that India's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and Tokyo Olympics bronze-medallist boxer Lovlina Borgohain will be India's flag-bearer during the grand opening ceremony of the Asian Games scheduled for September 23 in Hangzhou.
The IOA's decision to embrace joint flag-bearers for this prestigious event speaks volumes about the nation's approach to recognising diverse sporting talents. Notably, this year will witness the largest-ever Indian contingent, with a staggering 655 athletes vying for honors at the Asian Games. Discussing this significant decision, Indian contingent Chef de Mission Bhupender Singh Bajwa conveyed to PTI, "We arrived at the decision after much deliberation today."
Elaborating further on this choice, Bajwa, who also holds the position of the Wushu Association of India chief, said, "This time we will have two flag-bearers leading the contingent at the Asian Games -- hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and boxer Lovlina Borgohain."
The 2018 Jakarta Asian Games saw star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra carrying the flag during the opening ceremony, a testament to his sterling achievements in athletics.
Lovlina Borgohain, with her bronze medal triumph at the Tokyo Olympics in the 69kg category and a recent gold medal victory in the 75kg category at the World Women's Boxing Championship in New Delhi, has firmly cemented her position as one of the country's top boxers.
Similarly, Harmanpreet Singh, renowned globally as one of the finest drag-flickers, played a pivotal role in securing the much-celebrated bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, ending the prolonged medal drought that the Indian hockey team had endured for over four decades in the Olympic arena.
With aspirations sky-high, the Indian men's hockey team is gearing up with a golden objective for the Hangzhou Asian Games – clinching the top spot to ensure a direct ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Bajwa, given the mammoth responsibilities during the Asian Games, will have the assistance of four deputy chefs de mission. In addition to his duties for the Games, he is also the head of the ad-hoc committee for wrestling, constituted by the Indian Olympic Association.
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