ISLAMABAD: One of the shooters along with female badminton player Mahoor Shahzad may be assigned the duty of holding national flag at the opening ceremony march-past of the Tokyo Olympics, ‘The News’ has learnt reliably.
The decision that is expected to be announced within next couple of days is likely to see Khalil Akhtar and Mahoor holding the national flag. Leading shooter Ghulam Mustafa Bashir was a Pakistan flag-bearer during the Rio Olympics 2016 so when it comes to flag-bearing this time around, it is believed that Khalil may be given the honours.
“There are no less than three leading contenders in the men’s section to carry the national flag during the opening ceremony march-past. Since the shooters have created history by directly qualifying for the Olympics, they deserve to be awarded the honours. Since Ghulam Mustafa carried the flag during the last Games, this time around I think Khalil Akhtar should be awarded the honours,” a contingent’s official said.
He added that the matter was pending with the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) president Lt Gen (r) Arif Hasan and the decision was expected within next couple of days.
“Discussion and consultations are underway but the final decision rests with the POA president.”
Mahoor, however, is set to hold the flag as the woman athlete. Najma Parveen (wildcard entry) and Bismah Khan (wildcard entry) are the other two female athletes competing in Olympics under the green flag. However, since both are wildcard-holders it is unlikely the two would be considered. Mahoor has got the invitational place that makes her favourite to carry the flag.
On the men’s side, besides shooters, medal contenders Arshad Nadeem (javelin) and Shah Hussain Shah (judo) look serious contenders to hold the green flag. Since the athletics competition is set to start late, Arshad is expected to reach Tokyo after the opening ceremony.
“Arshad has been booked for Tokyo on his request. He would only reach Tokyo by July 24, a day after the ceremony. So in all probabilities, one of the shooters would be carrying the green flag at the opening ceremony on July 23.”
There have also been suggestions that judo player Shah Hussain Shah should be honoured as he has the genuine right to bear the flag. “Since he has won more national and international medals, he has the right to bear the flag. Besides being the national and South Asian champion, Shah is the Commonwealth Games silver medalist and Asian Games bronze medalist and thus has the right to carry the flag. He was denied the opportunity in Rio on the pretext that he does not figure in the national championship but now he has been continuously competing in the nationals and as such deserve the honour,” an official of the judo federation told ‘The News’.
Shah Husain is expected to join the Olympic Village on July 22, a day ahead of the opening ceremony. “He should be given the opportunity to bear the flag as he deserves it.”
However, his candidature is being contested on the pretext that Shah is there because of the continental quota.
“He is not a direct qualifier but is there on the basis of continental quota. The final authority however is the POA president,” the contingent official added.