"Even NIFT students would have designed something better" - Fans express disappointment on India's Paris Olympics' opening ceremony attire
The Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony is up and running. For a change, the ceremony was not held in an auditorium or a stadium but in the open. 6,800 athletes from 205 nations travelled on the Siene river in boats between Pont d'Austerlitz and Pont d'Iena.
India's flag-bearers at the event were badminton stars Sharath Kamal and PV Sindhu and other athletes such as Lovlina Borgohain, Deepika Kumari, Manika Batra and the nation's youngest Dhinidhi Desinghu (swimmer) were all present on the boat.
Representing India at a grand stage is of sheer joy and the athletes were seen upholding the famous Indian tradition. The Indian men were witnessed wearing kurtas and pajamas and women were draped in a saree. Both costumes had a beautiful blend of the tricolour (saffron, white and green).
However, the designs on show received a mixed set of reactions from the Indian community on X. Some fans were amazed by the beauty of the dresses. On the other hand, some fans showered heavy criticism and pointed out certain aspects on the costumes.
A user wrote on X:
"men's costume 👌they look dashing💥but saree is a sorry 😬😢was it designed by a different person?"
Another user showered criticism:
A fan account shared a post which read:
"All the very best team!, but boy do we need to up our fashion game, Tarun tahiliani what a job badly done especially when representing the country on an international scale."
However, positive comments were also evident as some fans truly appreciated the Indian attire.
"Dress- 4/10," a user rated the dress.
"Ye neta jaise kyu lag rahe hai? Koi accha designer nahi mila kya? Hamesha ka yehi rona hai." one user questioned.
India's expectations at Paris Olympics
Last time in Tokyo, India were able to bring home seven Olympic medals. However, this time the expectations set by the Indian ministry is that of 10 medals. India have a solid contingent of 117 athletes across multiple sports along with the Indian hockey team.
The Indian hockey team won a historic bronze in Tokyo and will be vying for something better in Paris. India's golden boy Neeraj Chopra has made it a habit of returning home champion, and he is once again one of the favorites to win that gold.
Shuttler PV Sindhu and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu have returned from their respective injuries and are expected to be the underdogs for a medal. Also, India's first-ever athlete in dressage (equestrian), Anush Agarwalla looks another medal hopeful heading into the showpiece event.