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Anju to lead team at Athens
The world number four in the long jump, Anju Bobby George, will carry the Indian flag in the opening ceremony of Olympic Games.
World number four Anju Bobby George will get the honour of carrying the tri-colour in the opening ceremony of Olympic Games in Athens next Friday, the Indian Olympic Association announced in New Delhi on Friday.
"We hope this great honour will inspire and encourage her more to come back with a medal," IOA president Suresh Kalmadi said.
Long jumper Anju is the first Indian to win a bronze medal at the World Athletics meet in Paris last August and is considered a bright medal prospect at Athens.
Kalmadi said IOA held wide consultations with the various federations before finalising Anju's name, who is India's lone hope in athletics for a medal in the August 13 to 29 Games.
Asked whether Karnam Malleswari was considered along with Anju, Kalmadi said "after all only one can carry the flag."
The weightlifter who won India's lone medal, a bronze, in the last edition of the Games at Sydney in 2000 was considered a strong contender after Leander Paes, the bronze winner in Atlanta Games in 1996, got the honour in Sydney.
Ace shooter Anjali Vedpathak Bhagwat and hockey star Dhanraj Pillay were India's flagbearers in the Manchester Commonwealth Games and Busan Asian Games in 2002.
Kalmadi told reporters, "The Indian contigent for the Games will include 75 athletes in 14 disciplines who will be accompanied by 30 coaches and about six doctors."
He said while the government will take care of the contingent's pocket allowance and kitting expense, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will bear the cost of the air travel, boarding and lodging."
