It was only natural for the Indian hopes in the Olympic Games to be ignited by Manu Bhaker’s two Bronze medals, so when the curtains came down at around midnight here at the Stade de France, it was befitting that the youngster returned home from Delhi carrying the flag with bronze medalist and retiring hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh.
Manu took third place in women’s 10m air pistol event and team events, and narrowly missed another third-place finish in women’s 25 pistol final. Lasting more than three hours, the show went on before more than 71,500 spectators who had filled up all stands hours before it began; it started with a musical performance followed by march-pass of flagbearers from 205 countries.
Sreejesh and Manu stepped out clad in official team colors with “India” written boldly in golden letters behind them as loud applause erupted from hundreds of Indians who were already sitting down for closing ceremony. “It was an unforgettable moment and I’ll always cherish this day,” said Bhaker. The 22-year-old added that it was “such a great honour to carry our national flag.”
Only what are lost is videos and images that she wanted to take using her mobile phone during those memorable moments. “When Manu flew back to Delhi she lost her phone. She switched on airplane mode on her seat but forgot about leaving it behind after landing in Delhi. Losing her phone was very bad since it is the same one that was given to her by ‘Tokyo games’ sponsor,” sources informed Parami News. “We made a complaint but no stolen device matching Manu’s description could be retrieved,” sources told us.
On his part, Sreejesh did not encounter any trouble as he clicked away while waving his country’s flag alongside several others.
Reetika Hooda, an Indian wrestler was among few lucky members of the Indian contingent left behind till the end of the closing ceremony. “I felt very good to represent my country in front of such a large audience. It was a bitter sad moment for me as I missed out on a medal,” said Reetika, the first Indian wrestler to qualify in the women’s heavyweight category.
For her, the big moment was not watching Hollywood star Tom Cruise take away Games’ flag to Los Angeles but meeting and greeting Cuban wrestling legend Mijain Lopez. Having won his first gold at Beijing in 2008, Lopez ended his career here after winning his fifth straight title in men’s Greco-Roman 130kg. “I’m not even a big fan of Bollywood, so Hollywood is very far,” she said with a smile. “But to meet and pose for a picture with Lopez sir was a priceless moment,” she told Parami News.
