Bhaker leads India at Youth Olympics, Thai boys greeted
Shooter Manu Bhaker had the honour of leading the Indian contingent as its flagbearer as the opening ceremony of the Youth Olympic Games, in a first, was held on the streets with over two lakh people showing up.
The innovative idea put in shade the dazzling fireworks and the glow in the Buenos Aires night sky. Invited to the one-of-its kind ceremony, the ‘Wild Boars’ from Thailand were hailed by the International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach.
The ‘Wild Boars’ team captured the attention of the world in June when they were trapped for almost two weeks inside a flooded cave in the Chang Rai province of Thailand.
Bach acknowledged their “strength and resilience”.
“They are truly Olympic values and that is why I have asked them to come to Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires to share their experiences with other young athletes,” Bach had said as Argentina braced up for its biggest multi-sporting global event.
Holding their place of importance in the culturally vibrant city that continues to retain some
BUENOS AIRES:
of its medieval charm, the portenos sang and the tango dancers dance.
The Games will bring 4,000 athletes, from 206 teams, aged 15-18 to Buenos Aires. A contingent of 68 members from India, including 46 athletes, is in Argentina to compete in 13 sports during the prestigious event.
This is India’s largest ever contingent at the Youth Olympics. Hockey 5s has most number of Indian participants with 18 (nine each in men’s and women’s team) while track and field has seven athletes. Other Indian participants are: shooting (4), recurve archery (2), badminton (2), swimming (2), table tennis (2), weightlifting (2), wrestling (2), rowing (2), boxing (1), judo (1), sport climbing (1).
The 16-year-old Bhaker, who had won gold in 10m air pistol at Guadalajara World Cup as well as Commonwealth Games, will be among top medal contenders for India at the Youth Olympics.
In the festive atmosphere, Bhaker got a photograph clicked with other medal prospect shooters Mehuli Ghosh and Saurabh Chaudhary.