Sakshi Malik Carries Indian Flag at Rio Games Closing Ceremony

Rio de Janeiro: Wrestler Sakshi Malik, who opened India’s account at the Rio Olympics with a bronze medal in the women’s 58 kilogram freestyle category, carried the Indian flag at the closing ceremony of the Rio Olympics on Sunday.

The closing ceremony was held amid a riot of colour combining tradition with modernity, in the presence of over 60,000 spectators and over 11,000 athletes from across the globe. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach officially declared the Games closed, urging the youths of the world to assemble in Tokyo in 2020 for the next edition of the quadrennial showpiece. “I declare the Games of the 31st Olympiad closed. In accordance with tradition, I call upon the youth of the world to assemble four years from now in Tokyo, Japan, to celebrate with us the Games of the 32nd Olympiad. Bye bye Rio,” said Bach at the Closing ceremony.

At the closing ceremony ritual, the Olympic flag was lowered and handed to the Mayor of Rio, who gave it to IOC President Thomas Bach. Silence and emotion took over the stadium as Bach presented the flag to Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike in a symbolic gesture to the Asian city, now busy preparing for the next edition of the Games.

A little earlier, in a customary handover ritual, the flag of Greece - the host of the ancient Olympics and the stage of the first modern games in 1896 - went up, and the Olympic flag was lowered and handed to the Mayor of Rio, who gave it to Bach. Silence and emotion took over Maracana, with Bach presenting the flag to Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike in a symbolic gesture to the Asian city, now busy preparing for the Games -- the biggest sporting extravaganza on the globe.

Meanwhile, Rakesh Gupta, Chef de Mission of the Indian contingent said, “Sakshi and P.V. Sindhu have been the medallists for us and both displayed immense courage and determination during their competitions. Sakshi started the account for us and later Sindhu became the first Indian woman to win a silver medal. Sindhu, in fact, came close to making it a gold. Both Sakshi and Sindhu are young and have many more Olympic Games ahead of them, we can look forward to even greater performances from them.”

IANS