Champion shooter Abhinav Bindra will be India’s flag-bearer at the Rio Olympics' opening ceremony on August 5.
The 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medallist will be making his fifth Olympic appearance this year.
Alongside star boxer Vijender Singh, tennis legend Leander Paes and decorated grappler Sushil Kumar, Bindra's name was under consideration prior to the 2012 London Games too but the Indian Olympic Association gave the honour to the double Olympic medallist wrestler.
The 33-year-old is till date India's only individual gold medallist at the Olympics.
The usually reserved shooter achieved the feat when he clinched a historic gold in 10-metre air rifle event at the Games in 2008.
The National Rifle Association of India expressed delight at the development.
"He is India's only singular gold medallist, he is also in the executive board of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF). We feel it's a just decision, a wise decision and we whole-heartedly support it," NRAI President Raninder Singh said.
A winner of numerous medals at top international competitions, including the World Championships, World Cup, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, Bindra is also one of the goodwill ambassadors of the Indian contingent for the Rio Games and is working towards inspiring the athletes to give their best in the Brazilian city this summer.
Image: Abhinav Bindra on the victory podium after winning the gold medal in the 10-metre air rifle event at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Photograph: Getty Images
