Indian hockey team's Sreejesh, Shooter Manu Bhaker to be flagbearers at Paris Olympics closing ceremony

Indian Olympic Association on Friday announced the nomination of hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh as the joint flagbearer with pistol shooter Manu Bhaker at the Closing Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

"The Indian Olympic Association is delighted to announce the nomination of hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh as the joint flag-bearer with pistol shooter Manu Bhaker at the Closing Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games," the IOA said in a statement.

For Bhaker, this is a deeply meaningful honor.


"I'm honored. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I will cherish it for as long as possible in my sports career... It will be an honor of a lifetime. I will always cherish it," she said, expressing her gratitude.

Manu Bhaker came at the global forefront as a phenomenal Indian pistol shooter at the Paris Olympics when she became the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympic medal, earning a bronze in the individual 10m air pistol event.

Bhaker also teamed up with Sarabjot Singh to secure another bronze in the mixed team 10m air pistol event.

She will return to Paris on Saturday to participate in the closing ceremony on Sunday.

Sreejesh, on the other hand, had announced that his game at the Paris Olympics would be his last representation for India as a hockey player on the international stage.

Sharing his thoughts on X, Sreejesh, known as 'the wall' of Indian hockey, reflected on his journey, saying, "From a young boy with a dream to the man defending India's honor, my journey has been nothing short of extraordinary."

Sreejesh has competed in four Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. The 36-year-old has been part of the Indian team since 2006 and became the first-choice goalkeeper in 2011.

Sreejesh was honored with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021 and is only the second Indian athlete to win the World Games Athlete of the Year award.

His back-to-back FIH Goalkeeper of the Year awards in 2021 and 2022 highlight his status as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.