Bhavina, who won a silver medal at the 2020 Paralympic Games, is a wheelchair athlete. Officials felt that attending the opening ceremony would place an unnecessary physical demand on her, as the journey to and from the venue would take nearly six hours. This could leave her with limited time to recover before her important match.

Explaining the decision, Satyanarayana, Head Coach of Para Athletics, stressed that the athlete’s preparation and well-being were the main considerations.

“Bhavina has her quarterfinal match on October 19, and it is important that she gets adequate rest and recovery ahead of this crucial contest. As a wheelchair athlete, travelling to and from the venue takes nearly six hours, which would be demanding and leave her with limited time to recover. Keeping her well-being and competition schedule in mind, we felt it was important to make this change. Our priority is to ensure that our athletes get the rest they need and are fully prepared to give their best when they compete,” he added.

Bhagat and Sharma will carry the Indian flag at the ceremony, representing the determination, resilience and sporting spirit of the country’s para-athletes. The decision reflects the contingent’s emphasis on ensuring that ceremonial duties do not interfere with athletes’ preparation for competition.

The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) is hopeful of a strong medal haul at the Games. Bhagat and Bhavina are among the major names in India’s contingent, while para-athletics and para-badminton are expected to provide significant opportunities for medals.

With the competition underway, India will look to its leading athletes to deliver strong performances while ensuring that their recovery and preparation remain a priority.