PCI refutes reports of Mariyappan being named Paralympics flag-bearer

Refuting media reports of gold medallist Mariyappan Thangavelu being selected to carry the tricolour at the Rio Paralympics closing ceremony on September 18, Paralympics Committee of India (PCI) vice president Gursharan Singh on Monday said no such decision has been taken yet.

On Friday, Thangavelu clinched the gold in T-42 high jump at Rio, after which media reports emerged that the athlete has been selected to carry India's flag at the closing ceremony.

But when IANS contacted Singh, he said: "any such decision will only be taken by September 16 or 17."

Asserting that the Indian athletes will win a few more gold medals, a confident Singh said: "We will win many more gold medals in the coming days and script world records. Thereafter, we will take a decision on the flag bearer."

Besides Thangavelu's gold, woman shot-putter Deepa Malik on Monday added to India's kitty by bagging the silver with a personal best throw of 4.61 in her six attempts.

--IANS

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