Arshad, Jehanara to be flag bearers in Paris

LAHORE: As was expected Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) on Saturday officially announced that the country’s major javelin thrower and world silver medallist Arshad Nadeem and female 200m specialist swimmer Jehanara Nabi will act as flag-bearers of the national contingent at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on July 26.

An 18-member Pakistan contingent, seven athletes and 11 officials, are set to proceed to Paris in different groups from July 19 to July 24 and will also return in groups after completion of their respective events.

The nation will feature in shooting, athletics and swimming in Paris Olympics. Of the seven athletes four, three shooters and Arshad Nadeem, have directly qualified for the Olympics while female sprinter Faiqa Riaz and swimmers Jehanara Nabi and Dubai-based Mohammad Ahmed Durrani (200m freestyle) will participate in the world’s most prestigious event on the basis of the universality places.

Contingent: Shooting: Ghulam Mustafa Bashir (25m rapid fire pistol), Joseph Gulfam (10m air pistol, 10m air pistol mixed team), Kishmala Talat (10m air pistol, 10m air pistol mixed team), Col Junaid Ali (manager), Gennady Solodovnikov (coach);

Athletics: Arshad Nadeem (javelin), Faiqa Riaz (100m), Salman Butt (coach), Dr Ali Sher Bajwa (doctor); Swimming: Mohammad Ahmed Durrani (200m freeestyle), Jehanara Nabi (200m freestyle), Lt Col (retd) Ahmed Ali Khan (manager);

Contingent officials: Mohammad Shafiq (chef de mission), Javed Lodhi (deputy chef de mission), Zainab Shoukat (Admin Official); Special appointments from IOC certified personnel and Pakistan’s Embassy in France: Dr Syed Meesaq Hussain Rizvi (chief medical officer POA, Kashif Jameel (NOC Olympic Attache, Head of Chancery Embassy of Pakistan, France), Rizwan Ahmed (Welfare Officer (IOC certified safeguarding officer in sports).