Rio 2016: Sakshi Malik will carry flag at closing

Wrestler Sakshi Malik, who won India’s first medal in the Rio Olympics, was on Sunday announced as the country’s flagbearer at the Summer Games closing ceremony.

The announcement came after India’s last medal hope Yogeshwar Dutt lost 0-3 to Ganzorig Mandakhnaran in the qualifying of the 65kg freestyle wrestling.

Sakshi, who had become the first woman wrestler in India to win an Olympic medal with her bronze in the 58kg freestyle, became the obvious choice as India’s only other medallist P.V. Sindhu, who bagged a silver in women's singles badminton, left for Hyderabad on Saturday.

“Sakshi and Sindhu have been the medallists for us and both displayed immense courage and determination during their competitions,” said chef de mission Rakesh Gupta.

“Sakshi started the account for us and later Sindhu became the first Indian woman to win a silver medal. Sindhu, in fact came close to making it a gold. Both Sakshi and Sindhu are young and have many more Olympic Games ahead of them,” he said.