Carrying a national flag at the Olympic Games, the world's largest sporting event, holds immense significance. India has witnessed numerous legends proudly bearing the flag at these Games, and this year is no different.
For the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024, two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and accomplished table tennis star Sharath Kamal will proudly display the tricolour during the opening ceremony. Over the years, a total of 18 Indian athletes have had the honour of being flag-bearers at the Summer Games.
The tradition of leading the Indian contingent with the flag dates back to sprinter Purma Banerjee, who first carried it at the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. Following India's Independence in 1947, Dr Talimeren Ao, the inaugural captain of the men's football team, carried the tricolour at the 1948 London Games.
Other notable athletes who have held the Indian flag at the opening ceremony include hockey stalwarts Lal Shah Bhokhari (1932), Dhyan Chand (1936), and Balbir Singh Sr (1952 and 1956), with Balbir Singh being the only Indian to have done so twice.
At the 2016 Rio Games, India's first individual gold medallist Abhinav Bindra had the honour of being the flag-bearer. In the Tokyo Games of 2021, Mary Kom and Manpreet Singh made history by jointly holding the flag, marking the first occasion of two Indians sharing this responsibility at the Olympics.
Among Indian women, sprinter Shiny Abraham-Wilson was the first flag-bearer, followed by Anju Bobby George and Mary Kom. PV Sindhu will now become the fourth woman to hold this prestigious role.
The tradition of carrying the national flag at the Olympics not only symbolises pride and honour but also underscores the achievements and aspirations of Indian athletes on the global stage.
Here is the complete list of all Indian flag-bearers at the Olympic Games:1920: Purma Banerjee (Athletics)
1932: Lal Shah Bhokari (Hockey)
1936: Dhyan Chand (Hockey)
1948: Talimeren Ao (Football)
1952: Balbir Singh Sr (Hockey)
1956: Balbir Singh Sr (Hockey)
1964: Gurbachan Singh Randhawa (Athletics)
1972: Desmond-Neville Devine Jones (Boxing)
1984: Zafar Iqbal (Hockey)
1988: Kartar Singh Dhillon (Wrestling)
1992: Shiny-Abraham Wilson (Athletics)
1996: Pargat Singh (Hockey)
2000: Leander Paes (Tennis)
2004: Anju Bobby George (Athletics)
2008: Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (Shooting)
2012: Sushil Kumar (Wrestling)
2016: Abhinav Bindra (Shooting)
2020: Mary Kom (Boxing) and Manpreet Singh (Hockey)
2024: Sharath Kamal (Table Tennis) and PV Sindhu (Badminton)
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