Mumbai IOC Session: Opening Ceremony Brings Together Superstars of Sports and Films from Across the Globe – News18

Mumbai: The opening ceremony of the 141st IOC Session was a star-studded affair with a galaxy of superstars from the world of sports and films from across the globe descending in Mumbai on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the session open in the presence of IOC President Thomas Bach and IOC member Nita Ambani.

The session, which is being held in India after 40 years, was graced by Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck of Bhutan, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe and IOA president PT Usha, among other sporting dignitaries and heads of sporting federations.

Fresh off their record medal haul at the Asian Games, several Indian athletes were also at the ceremony.

Reigning Olympic and World Champion Neeraj Chopra and Olympic medallists Abhinav Bindra and Leander Paes were accompanied by Indian national hockey team’s PR Sreejesh.

Indian cricket stars Jhulan Goswami and Harmanpreet Kaur graced the event along with renowned Olympians Anju Bobby George and Anjali Bhagwat.

Sports team owners Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt attended the event as did actor Deepika Padukone whose father is the legendary shuttler Prakash Padukone and whose sister Anisha Padukone is a professional golfer.

Deepa Malik, the first Indian woman to win a medal at the Paralympics, and Manika Batra, the first Indian female table tennis player to win a medal at the Asian Games, were also among the attendees.

The next generation of athletes who won big at the Asian Games — such as Saurav Ghosal, Abhay Singh, Jyothi Yarraji, Jinson Johnson, Avinash Sable and Parul Chaudhary – were in attendance as well.