Sushil deserves to carry the flag: Leander Paes

DELHI, INDIA – OCTOBER 10: Sushil Kumar of India runs a lap of honour after winning against Heinrich Barnes of South Africa

New York, July 20 – India’s top tennis player Leander Paes said wrestler Sushil Kumar deserves to be the flag bearer of the Olympic contingent during the opening ceremony of the London Games.

Paes, who had won a singles bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games, said since he had already done honours during the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2000 Games, Sushil, a Beijing Games bronze medallist, should carry the flag during the opening ceremony.

“I have already been the flag bearer in the opening and closing ceremony. So I think it is really fair and I think that wrestler Sushil Kumar is well deserving of it,” Paes was quoted as saying by NDTV.

Paes said since Olympics are held once every four years every deserving sportsperson should get a chance to carry the flag.

“Because the Olympics come only once every four years it is only fair that other people also get a chance. I have already won a medal at the Olympics in singles,” he said.