To be the flag-bearer of your country at a prestigious event like the Asian Games is an honor, not many athletes are bestowed upon. Finally, the Indian officials have ended the speculation as to who will lead the contingent at the Hangzhou opening ceremony. While many believed it could either be Neeraj Chopra or Nikhat Zareen, but hockey skipper Harmanpreet Singh and Tokyo bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain have been chosen for the job.
The Asian Games opening ceremony is supposed to take place on September 23, and the IOA took the decision on Wednesday to have joint flag-bearers for the event. A total of 655 Indian athletes are competing in the Asian Games this time, which is the largest contingent ever.
“We arrived at the decision after much deliberation today,” Indian contingent Chef de Mission Bhupender Singh Bajwa told PTI. “This time we will have two flag-bearers leading the contingent at the Asian Games — hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and boxer Lovlina Borgohain,” added Bajwa, who is also Wushu Association of India chief.
Bajwa will be assisted at the Asian Games by four deputy chefs de mission as the job entails a lot of responsibility. He is also the chairman of the Indian Olympic Association-constituted ad-hoc committee for wrestling.
Lovlina Borgohain Brushing Aside Bad Memories of CWG Opening Ceremony
During the CWG 2022 opening ceremony, Lovlina, along with fellow boxer Muhammad Hussamudin had left the event midway, to be able to train for their boxing bouts. But to their utter dismay, they were left stranded outside the venue as there was no vehicle available. This had left Chef de Mission displeased, while a controversy had erupted back in India.
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