Paris Paralympics 2024: India's gold medalist archer Harvinder Singh and sprinter Preeti Pal, who scripted history by becoming the first woman athlete, to have won two consecutive medals at the Paris Paralympics, would be the country's flagbearers during the closing ceremony of the ongoing quadrennial event on Sunday.
The 33-year-old Harvinder created history by becoming the first Indian archer to have won a gold medal at the Paralympics after winning a bronze medal at the previous edition. Swelling with pride, Harvinder revealed that carrying the country's flag would be one of the biggest achievements of his career.
"Winning gold for India has been a dream come true, and now leading our nation as a flag-bearer at the closing ceremony is the highest honor I could imagine. This victory is for everyone who believed in me, and I hope to inspire many more to pursue their dreams," said Harvinder, who has been suffering from physical impairment on both legs since a young age.
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At the same time, the 23-year-old Preethi had achieved the feat of winning the bronze medals in the T35 100m and 200m races and also registered the personal best record of finishing the race in 14.21 and 30.01 seconds. She too admitted that she is looking forward to the opportunity of being the country's flagbearer.
"It is a great honor to represent India as a flag bearer. This moment is not just about me; it's about every para-athlete who has pushed their limits to make our nation proud. I am thrilled to be leading our incredible team at the closing ceremony," she said, a T35 athlete, who is suffering from coordination impairments like hypertonia, ataxia, and athetosis.
Satya Prakash Sangwan, who is the Chef de Mission, emphasized the importance of their feats and their effect on the young generations.
"Harvinder Singh's historic gold in archery and Preeti Pal's stellar performance in athletics have made them true ambassadors of our nation's grit and determination. Their role as flag bearers at the closing ceremony is a symbol of the incredible journey our athletes have undertaken. Their achievements inspire us all, and I am confident they will continue to motivate future generations of para-athletes," he concluded.
The Indian Paralympic contingent has already registered their best-ever medal haul, after winning 26 medals, of which six gold and nine silver medals, have already scripted history for the country.