Arshad and Jehanara to be flag-bearers at the Paris Olympics

The Pakistan Olympic Association named the full contingent for the Games on Saturday

KARACHI:

Javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem and swimmer Jehanara Nabi will be the flag-bearers at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on July 26.

Arshad, being the main medal hope is training in Lahore as he aims for the medal.

Pakistan had won their last medal at the Summer Games 32 years ago.

Arshad wants to end that drought and he is focusing on his target while also being mildly delighted by the idea of being a flag-bearer.

"I'm very excited to be the flag-bearer at the Opening Ceremony at the Paris Olympics, but my main goal is the medal," Arshad told this correspondent in a small chit chat after the announcement.

"I am focusing on my target which is that Allah grants us the success, and we earn respect at this global level. Inshallah if we win the medal the world would see. So my training is on, and it is going well."

The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) announced on Saturday along with the list of the members in the contingent.

There will be seven athletes participating at the Games at the athletics, shooting, and swimming events.

These athletes include Arshad in javelin throw, Faiqa Ria in 100 metre, they will be accompanied by coach Salman Iqbal Butt and Dr Ali She Bajwa, who treated Arshad's injuries since 2021, will be their support personnel.

In swimming, Muhammad Ahmed Durrani will compete in the 200 metre freestyle while Jehanara Nabi will also participate in the 200 metre freestyle women's event and Lt Col (R) Ahmed Ali Khan will travel with them a the athlete support personnel.

Similarli, Ghulam Mustafa Bashir, who directly qualified for the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event, Gulfam Joseph for 10m Air Pistol and 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team and Kishmala Talat for the 10m Air Pistol, 25m Pistol, 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team will be fininding supoort through Col Junaid Ali and coach Gennady Solodovnikov.

Other contingent officials include Muhammad Shafiq as the Chef de Mission (CDM), Javaid Shamshad Lodhi as the Deputy CDM

and Zainab Shaukat as the Admin Official.

The Special Appointments from the Internaional Olympic Committee as certified Personnel and Embassy of Pakistan in France will include Syed Meesaq Hussain Rizvi, OLY - Chief Medical Officer, Kashif Jameel as the NOC Olympic Attaché (Head of Chancery, Embassy of Pakistan in France) and Rizwan Ahmed as the Welfare Officer (IOC certified Safeguarding Officer in Sports).

The athletes and team officials will depart in various groups from July 19th to July 24th and will return in different groups after the conclusion of their competitions.