Pramod Bhagat, Simran Sharma to Be India's Flag Bearers as Bhavina Patel Prioritises Quarter-Final

Pramod Bhagat and Simran Sharma will serve as India's flag bearers, with Simran replacing Bhavina Patel following a decision to prioritise the latter's rest and recovery ahead of her crucial quarter-final scheduled for October 19.

The change has been made to ensure Bhavina, a wheelchair athlete, has sufficient time to recover and prepare for the important knockout contest. The journey to and from the ceremony venue is expected to take nearly six hours, making participation physically demanding and potentially affecting her preparation for the quarter-final.

Satyanarayana, Head Coach of Para Athletics, explained that the decision was taken after considering Bhavina's competition schedule and the importance of adequate recovery before the match.

"Bhavina has her quarter-final match tomorrow, October 19, and it is important that she gets adequate rest and recovery ahead of this crucial contest. As a wheelchair athlete, travelling to and from the venue takes nearly six hours, which would be demanding and leave her with limited time to recover," he said.

The coach added that the team's priority was to safeguard the athlete's well-being and ensure she was fully prepared to perform at her best when she takes the court.

Pramod Bhagat and Simran Sharma will now carry the honour of leading the Indian contingent as flag bearers, representing the country's determination, resilience and sporting spirit.