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Star shuttler Sindhu, who had won silver in Rio 2016 and bronze in Tokyo 2020, was chosen as India’s flag-bearer along with veteran paddler Sharath Kamal, who is making his fifth — and likely his final — Olympic appearance. read more
 "PV Sindhu, Achanta Sharath Kamal lead the way as Team India arrives in Paris in style")
The Indian contingent led by Achanta Sharath Kamal and PV Sindhu makes its way through River Seine. AP
Two-time Olympic medallist Pusarla Venkata Sindhu and table tennis icon Achanta Sharath Kamal led the 117-strong Indian contingent in the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Friday.
Star shuttler Sindhu, who had won silver in Rio 2016 and bronze in Tokyo 2020, was chosen as India’s flag-bearer along with veteran paddler Sharath Kamal, who is making his fifth — and likely his final — appearance at the world’s biggest multi-sport event.
Paris Olympics: News, schedule, medals tally and more
Friday’s star-studded opening ceremony that took place amidst torrential rain in the French capital was historic as it was the first time the event was taking place outside the Olympic stadium.
Instead of marching inside the stadium, the national contingents were introduced one by one in a boat parade through the River Seine that culminated at the iconic Eiffel Tower. As per Olympic custom, the parade began with Greece and concluded with host nation France.
The Indians were the 84th nation in the parade, coming in after Hungary, and were followed by Indonesia, Iran and Iraq.
Watch India’s boat parade during the Paris Olympics opening ceremony here:
— Sports18 (@Sports18) July 26, 2024The Indian contingent wore stylish white outfits for the Parade of Nations. While the male athletes wore kurtas with jackets that had saffron and green borders to highlight the national flag, the female athletes were dressed in sarees that also featured the tricolour.
And, we’re all set for the Opening Ceremony! Tune in for a unique Ceremony, a first for the Summer Olympics where the ceremony will be held outside a stadium! The parade of athletes will be held on river Seine!
Let’s cheer loud for our athletes! Chalo #JeetKiAur#Cheer4Bharat pic.twitter.com/KQjzd4axvF
Paris 2024, flag bearer—one of the greatest honors of my life to hold our country's flag in front of millions ❤️ pic.twitter.com/4VPc9FFuIz
— Pvsindhu (@Pvsindhu1) July 26, 2024Team India comprises 117 athletes in 16 sporting disciplines. That’s as many athletes as they did in Rio 2016, though they’ll be hoping for a lot more than just the two medals that they had managed eight years ago.
The Paris 2024 opening ceremony overcame torrential rain to pull off a spectacle and kickstart the 33rd Summer Olympic Games in style. The event featured some of the world’s top artists including Celine Dion, Lady Gaga and Aya Nakamura as well as French metal band Gojira, while sporting legends such as Zinedine Zidane, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Amelie Mauresmo later took part in the final leg of the torch relay.
The opening ceremony also featured other acts that highlighted important historical events such as the French Revolution. Landmarks such as the Cathedral of Notre Dame, which has been undergoing repair since a devastating fire broke out in 2019, were also showcased in the ceremony.
The event concluded with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron that served as the base of a hot-air balloon, resulting in the whole thing getting airborne soon after.
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English (US) ·