Seven archers will have the honour of bearing the flag for their country at the opening ceremony of the Chengdu 2025 World Games on 7 August 2025.
Like the Olympic Games and other multisport events, the countries will parade in alphabetical order, with pairs of athletes, one male and one female, both carrying their countries’ flag.
Alejandra Usquiano, former team World Champion and multiple international medallist, will carry the flag for Colombia. She replaces compatriot Sara Lopez, who has withdrawn from the competition. “I’m very proud to carry the Colombian flag here in the World Games,” said Usquiano.
“Colombia has many talented athletes, and among them, I am very honoured to carry the Colombian flag.”
For Italy, Chiara Rebagliati, the defending 2022 World Games champion and 2022 World Field champion will carry the flag. “It is an honour to be the flag bearer. I think it will be a special moment for me and I will really enjoy this moment.”
“I want to say thanks to the Italian Olympic Committee [for nominating me] and I think it’s also a good image for the Italian Federation and for World Archery because archery has an important moment in an important event,” she said.
Mariya Klein, former team World Champion and multiple Grand Prix winner, will carry the flag for Luxembourg. “It means respect to my sport.” said Klein. “As an athlete, it’s a great honour to do this because I’m representing my country at such a big tournament with so many athletes from all over the world.”
“It’s a huge honour to see the Luxembourg flag there. I’m proud to see our flag there and that I can actually carry it.”
Elisabeth Taljaard, the compound archer who competed for Namibia at the 2019 Archery Championships in De Bosch, will also carry the flag.
Hendre Verhoef, the young South African compounder, will carry his nation’s flag. The 17-year-old Verhoef was selected for the role by his national Olympic committee, as a young athlete who is ranked number one in his discipline in South Africa and who has already represented his country multiple times.
Finally, compounders Begum Yuva and Batuhan Akcaoglu will carry the flag for Türkiye. Both archers will compete for their nation in the mixed team compound finals on Saturday.
The archery competition begins before the official opening ceremony with compound qualifying on Thursday 7 August.
