India face shame in opening ceremony of Sochi Games

SOCHI: India will face the ignominy of witnessing three of its athletes march without the national flag during the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics here tonight.

With the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) due to ethical and administrative reasons, luger Shiva Keshavan, Alpine skier Himanshu Thakur and cross-country skier Nadeem Iqbal will have to walk behind the IOC flag.

The Indian athletes will compete under the "independent athletes" category and will be represented under the Olympic flag.

It will be an embarrasing situation for India as billions of people all over the world tune in to witness the opening ceremony to be held at the Fisht Olympic Stadium.

The IOA was suspended by the IOC in December, 2012 due to its failure to comply with the Olympic charter. It has resulted in Indian athletes, including boxers, participating in events under the flag of world body.