The Indian contingent will be led by the Indian Men’s hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and Olympic boxer Lovlina Borgohain during the opening ceremony of the Asian Games in Hangzhou on September 23.
On Wednesday, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) decided to have joint flag-bearers for the 2023 Asian Games
The Indian contingent will be led by the Indian Men’s hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and Olympic boxer Lovlina Borgohain during the opening ceremony of the Asian Games in Hangzhou on September 23.
On Wednesday, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) decided to have joint flag-bearers for the continental event. (More Sports News)
This year's Asian Games feature the largest contingent of Indian competitors ever, with 655 athletes competing.
"We decided 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.
The opening ceremony of the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games was performed by star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra.
Lovlina had earned a bronze medal in the 69kg weight category at the Tokyo Olympics. She is the third Indian boxer to win a medal in the Olympics. She won gold in the 75kg category in the World Women's Boxing Championships in New Delhi this year.
Harmanpreet Singh is one of the top drag-flickers in the world and was a member of the team that won a historic bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, ending India's four-decade-long medal drought in the Olympics.
The Indian men's hockey team will compete for a gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Because the job carries a lot of responsibility, Bajwa will be assisted at the Asian Games by four deputy chefs de mission.
Bajwa is also the chairman of the Indian Olympic Association's wrestling ad hoc committee.
(With PTI inputs)