India is all set to showcase its talent to the world at Rio Olympics 2016. The Indian contingent, consisting of 121 athletes, will participate in a traditional parade anchored by the known shooter Abhinav Bindra. However, the Indian side will kickstart their journey a day before on Thursday with a shooting event at Olympic Shooting Centre, Rio.
Bindra will be India’s official flag bearer for the event this year. The task of flag bearing is considered as an honour amongst the athletes. So far there have been 21 sportsmen(including Bindra) chosen to bear the flag at the opening ceremonies. Balbir Singh Sr., field hockey player, is the only athlete to bear the flag twice (1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics). While Shiny Abraham-Wilson(1992) was the woman to carry Indian flag in any Olympics.
Here is the complete list of Indian flag bearers in Olympic games:
21. 2016-Abhinav Bindra (Shooting)
20. 2012-Sushil Kumar (Wrestling)
19. 2010-Shiva Keshavan (Luge)
18. 2008-Rajyavardhan Rathore (Shooting)
17. 2006-Neha Ahuja Alpine (skiing)
16. 2004-Anju George (Athletics)
15. 2002-Shiva Keshavan (Luge)
14. 2000-Leander Paes (Tennis)
13. 1998-Shiva Keshavan (Luge)
12. 1996-Pargat Singh Field (hockey)
11. 1992-Shiny Abraham-Wilson (Athletics)
10. 1988-Kartar Dhillon Singh (Wrestling)
9. 1988-Kishor Rahtna Rai Alpine (skiing)
8. 1984-Zafar Iqbal (hockey)
7. 1972-D.N. Devine Jones (Boxing)
6. 1964 Gurbachan Singh Randhawa (Athletics)
5. 1956 Balbir Singh Sr. (hockey)
4. 1952 Balbir Singh Sr. (hockey)
3. 1936 Dhyan Chand Field (hockey)
2. 1932 Lal Shah Bokhari (hockey)
1. 1920-Purma Bannerjee (Athletics)