Tokyo Paralympics 2020 Opening Ceremony: Tek Chand Replaces Mariyappan As Indian Flagbearer Over Covid Protocols

Mariyappan while traveling to Tokyo came in close contact with a Covid positive foreign passenger.

Thangavelu Mariyappan (Image Source: Getty)

New Delhi: Thangavelu Mariyappan will not be part of India's opening ceremony today at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo. He has been replaced by javelin thrower Tek Chand as the country's flag bearer.

Mariyappan while traveling to Tokyo came in close contact with a Covid positive foreign passenger.

He has been tested for 6 days and all his reports have come out negative, but the organizing committee has advised him not to participate in the Opening Day ceremony.

Deputy Chef de Mission (CDM) Arhan Bagati tweeted a video message from Gursharan Singh stating that Mariyappan Thangavelu along with 5 others have been quarantined until further notice. 

Mariyappan Thangavelu our Flag Bearer, with 5 others, have been quarantined until further notice, as someone near to their seats on their flight to Tokyo tested COVID+! However, none of them have turned +ve since the past 6days! Tek Chand will now be our Flag Bearer. Pls watch! pic.twitter.com/z0fmnP9mvW

— Arhan Bagati (@IamArhanBagati) August 24, 2021

"Instead of Mariyappan, our athlete Tek Chand will be the flag bearer. However, Mariyappan and Vinod Kumar although have been found in close contact, are found to be COVID negative since last six days while they are in Village," said Gursharan Singh, the secretary-general of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) in the video.

He further informed that as Mariyappan and other athletes have returned regular negative results for COVID-19, they will be allowed to train for their competitions.

A total of 54 para-athletes from across nine sports disciplines will be featured in the Paralympic Games. This is India's biggest ever contingent to Paralympic Games.