Gagan cynosure of all eyes at Asiad
Nov. 11: Ace shooter Gagan Narang, who won four gold medals at last month’s Commonwealth Games, will be India’s flag-bearer at the opening ceremony of the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China on November 12. It was announced by Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi here on Thursday.
“We chose Gagan not only because he emerged India’s best athlete in the Commonwealth Games with four gold medals but also because he has been one of the most consistent performers for India in the past few years,” Kalmadi said of the 27-year-old rifle shooter, who first shot into limelight in the Afro-Asian Games in Hyderabad.
“Gagan won four gold medals in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. In 2008, he won the 10m air rifle gold in the World Cup finals and earlier this year, claimed bronze in the World championship. He is also ranked world No 4 in the 10m air rifle event,” Kalmadi added.
The IOA chief said Gagan was handpicked for the honour from among a number of champions. “It is a pleasure to have such choice and strengthens our belief that Olympic sport in India is progressing in the right direction,” Kalmadi said.
However, Suresh Kalmadi added that Gagan will not be forced to attend the ceremony if he did not want to. “We have left it to him to decide,” Kalmadi said. “He must feel comfortable about it,” he said, adding that world number three badminton star Saina Nehwal will carry the flag if Gagan declines.
“We want Gagan Narang to be the flag-bearer at the Opening Ceremony but in case he is unable to do so, and we have left it to him to decide on it, then Saina Nehwal would do the honour. She has been kept as the stand-bye,” said Kalmadi. IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh also said it would be an honour to do the flag-bearer’s job but having gone through such an experience in the 1980 Moscow Olympics, attention must also be paid to the fact that Gagan had an event to take part next morning.
“I was the flag-bearer at the Moscow Games and it was windy the next day and I could feel stiffness in my arms. The pressure on the arms is different when holding the flag,” said the one-time ace shooter and former Asian Games medallist.
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