The bronze medal winner Indian wrestler at the Beijing Olympics, Sushil Kumar will now led India’s flag at the upcoming London Olympics 2012 Games’ opening event on July 27.
The announcement was made to media by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra that wrestler Sushil Kumar has been selected for the honour after due consideration.
Further, Mr. Malhotra said that other Olympic winners Leander Paes (tennis), Abhinav Bindra (shooting) and Vijender Singh (boxing) were also considered for the job but final name was Sushil Kumar.
Talking to media, he said, “Sushil will be India’s flag-bearer at the London Games. Names of Paes, Bindra and Vijender were also brought up for the role. Paes has already given the honour while Bindra and Vijender have their competition in the early days of the Olympics.”
Meanwhile, boxer Vijender Singh also won bronze medal at Beijing Olympics was the strongest candidate for the flag-bearer and shooter Abhinav Bindra’s anme was also called.
Atlanta bronze medallist Leander Paes was the flag-bearer at the Sydney Games in 2000. And, Trap shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore took the honour to carry the national flag in the Beijing edition four years ago.
