Veteran boxer MC Mary Kom was initially appointed as India's chef-de-mission for the Paris Olympics but resigned due to personal reasons.

New Delhi: 2012 London Olympics shooting bronze medalist Gagan Narang was appointed as India's chef-de-mission for the Paris Olympics on Monday. The six-time world champion boxer was initially named India's chef-de-mission for the Paris Olympics but withdrew due to personal reasons.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha said the elevation of 41-year-old Narang from the post of deputy CDM was an automatic choice in the wake of Mary Kom's resignation. The IOA announced two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu as the women's flag-bearer at the inaugural ceremony.

“I was looking for an Olympic medalist to lead our team and my young colleague Mary Kom is the perfect replacement,” PT Usha said in a press release. Mary Kom resigned in April, saying she had no choice but to step down for personal reasons. She was appointed CDM by IOA in March this year.

The chef-de-mission is an important administrative position as he is responsible for ensuring the welfare of the participating athletes, taking care of their needs and liaising with the organizing committee. The IOA also announced that Sindhu, India's only woman sprinter to win back-to-back Olympic medals, will be the flag bearer of the Indian contingent at the opening ceremony on July 26 along with table tennis player Achanta Sharath Kamal.

Usha said, “I am also happy to announce that India's only woman to win two Olympic medals, PV Sindhu, will be the female flag bearer along with table tennis player Achanta Sharath Kamal at the opening ceremony. The IOA had named Kamal as the flag bearer in March but delayed a decision on the selection of the women's player.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), in 2020, changed its protocol to allow one female and one male athlete from each NOC to jointly carry the flag during the opening ceremony of the Summer Games. Mary Kom and former hockey captain Manpreet Singh were India's flag bearers at the Tokyo Olympics.

“I am confident that our athletes are ready to give the best results for India at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” Usha added. More than 100 athletes have qualified for the Paris Games starting July 26.

Interestingly, Narang, a London Olympic bronze medalist in the men's 10m air rifle event, was tasked with overseeing India's operations at the shooting range, which is far from the main venues. India will field its largest ever shooting squad for the Games with as many as 21 players. Now that Narang has been selected for the role of CDM, IOA will have to find his replacement at the shooting range.