Who is India's Chef de Mission at Paris Olympics 2024?

With the Indian contingent all set to represent the country at the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024, four-time Olympian shooter Gagan Narang is set to assume duties as India’s Chef de Mission.

Narang, who won India the bronze medal in the men’s 10m air rifle event at the London Olympics 2012, had recently replaced another Olympic bronze medallist in Boxer Mary Kom for the role. Kom, who was the initial choice to be in the role for the Summer Olympics, resigned from the role citing ‘problems’ that have ‘partly crippled’ her in a letter to IOA President PT Usha.

Gagan Narang, 41, who made his Olympic debut at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, was a seasoned member of India’s shooting contingents in the past. He participated in a total of four editions of the Summer Olympics with his last appearance coming at the London Olympics 2012.

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What is Gagan Narang's role as the Chef de Mission?

The term ‘Chef de mission’ is a French term that translates to ‘head of mission.' The Chef de Mission of a national contingent that participates in any international multi-sport event, plays a very crucial administrative role. A major part of their duties involves serving as the spokesperson for the national contingent at the Olympics. For one to qualify for the role, they should be an Olympian themselves.

As a Chef de Mission, apart from being a primary liaison between the athletes and the organizing committees, Gagan Narang will also be motivating and mentoring the athletes and would want to do everything in his stride to ensure the morale of the team remains high at all times.

Being a respected sporting figure himself, Narang would be hoping to inspire the Indian contingent and play his part in bringing the best out of them.

The 2024 Paris Olympics will get underway on July 26 and will run until August 11, 2024.