Mary Kom resigns as Indian Contingent's Chef de Mission for Paris Olympics

By: WE Staff | Saturday, 13 April 2024

The six-time world champion boxer Mary Kom has stepped down as India's Chef-de-Mission for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. She gave personal reasons for her choice stating that these challenges made her "left with no choice." Mary Kom expressed disappointment for not being able to fulfill the distinguished responsibility in a heartfelt email to the Union Sports Ministry, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), and the President of the Indian Olympic Association (PT Usha). She wrote, "It is embarrassing to retreat from a commitment, which I seldom do, but I am left with no choice. I am there to cheer on my country and the athletes competing in this Olympic Games, with great expectations."

The Paris Olympics is all set to commence on 26 July for which IOA announced contingent officials on March 21. Shiva Keshavan, a winter Olympian, was appointed as Mary's deputy after appointing her as the Chef de Mission. Usha stated that the IOA would "respect her decision and her privacy and I shall take appropriate consultations and soon make an announcement about the replacement for Mary Kon" upon her resignation.

The International Olympic Committee (IOA) has appointed Gagan Narang, a London Olympics bronze medallist, to oversee the shooting village operations at the upcoming Olympics, with Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala as chief medical officer and Sharath Kamal as the male flag-bearer.