Vijender Kumar, India's first ever Olympic boxing medal winner, will be the flag bearer of the Indian contingent at Sunday's closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, an IOA official said on Saturday.

The Bhiwani pugilist won a bronze medal in the 75kg category event, which made him the national hero.

Army marksman Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was India's flag bearer during the spectacular opening ceremony of the Games on August 8. "We have decided to give the honour to Vijender," IOA spokesman Sandeep Mehta said.

Missing act

When the Olympic bronze medal was being presented to pugilist Vijender Kumar, none of the IOA official was there to cheer him.

Vijender was presented his medal at the Workers Gymnasium but bigwigs of Indian Olympic Association - President Suresh Kalmadi and Secretary general Randhir Singh - could not witness the presentation.

The IOA sources however said the absence was not deliberate because the two officials were scheduled to attend another medal presentation according to the organisers.

However, Vijender was cheered by other four boxers of the team, chief coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu, Cuban coach B I Fernandes and physio Heath Matthews.