PR Sreejesh joins Manu Bhaker as India’s flagbearer for Paris Olympics 2024 closing ceremony

PR Sreejesh has joined shooter Manu Bhaker as one of the two flagbearers for India in the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024 to be held on Sunday, August 11. Sreejesh was recently a part of India’s hockey team that won the bronze medal in the quadrennial event after beating Spain 2-1 in the third-place play-off match.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA), comprising president PT Usha and Chef de Mission Gagan Narang, took the call of naming Sreejesh. Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was also in contention, but the IOA zeroed in on the former Indian goalkeeper.

“Sreejesh has served Indian hockey in particular and Indian sport in general admirably through more than two decades,” PT Usha said in a statement.

Neeraj Chopra backed PR Sreejesh for Paris Olympics closing ceremony

PT Usha said that Neeraj also supported PR Sreejesh to carry the Indian national flag. PT Usha praised Neeraj for showing respect for Sreejesh, who retired from international football after India hockey’s showpiece event.

“I spoke with Neeraj Chopra and appreciate the spontaneity and grace with which he agreed that Sreejesh should be the flagbearer at the Closing Ceremony,” PT Usha said.

“He told me ‘Ma’am, even if you had not asked me, I would have suggested Sree bhai’s name’. It is reflective of the immense respect Neeraj has for Sreejesh and his contribution to Indian sport,” Usha added.

Sreejesh also won the bronze medal in Tokyo when India ended their 41-year-long wait to win an Olympic medal. He also played a massive role this time around for the Indian team and bowed out on a high following India’s win over Spain on Thursday.

Neeraj, on the other hand, could not defend his Olympic crown. He threw 89.45 meters in the men’s javelin, but Arshad Nadeem pulled off a mammoth throw of 92.97 meters to take the top prize at Stade de France.