From Dhyan Chand to Mary Kom - India's flagbearers at the Olympics

Sportspersons who have been the Olympics flagbearers for India over the years have been pioneers in their respective fields and brought many accolades to the nation. Their contribution has been widely recognized and is seen as a symbol of the Olympic ideals, one who can be an inspiration or a role model for the future. As everyone is gearing up for the Tokyo Summer Olympics 2020, here we take a look at the Indian athletes who were flagbearers at the Olympics so far:

Boxer MC Mary Kom and men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh will be India's flagbearers at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Credit: DH Photo

Six-time Olympian Shiva Keshavan carried the national flag at the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games held in South Korea. Credit: Reuters Photo

Gold-medallist Abhinav Bindra was the flagbearer of India at Rio Olympics 2016. Credit: Getty Images

Wrestler Sushil Kumar, who was seen as a symbol of the ideals, was the flagbearer at the 2012 London Olympics. Credit: PTI

Shiva Keshavan, the first Indian athlete to compete in the luge event at the Winter Olympics, was the Olympics flagbearer during the XXI Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Credit: Getty Images

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore served as India’s Olympic flagbearer in 2008 Summer Olympics held in Beijing. Credit: Instagram/ra_rathore

Indian alpine skier Neha Ahuja was the flagbearer of India at 2006 Winter Olympics held in Italy. Credit: Wikipedia

Anju Bobby George became the second woman Olympic flagbearer for India at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Credit: Getty Images

Shiva Keshavan carried the Indian flag at the opening ceremony of the Salt Lake 2002 games. Credit: Getty Images

Tennis legend Leander was the IOA's unanimous choice to be India's flagbearer at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Credit: Instagram/leanderpaes

Legendary hockey player Pargat Singh was the Olympics flagbearer for India in 1996 Olympics games. Credit: Facebook/pargatsinghonline

Sprinter Shiny-Abraham Wilson was the first Indian woman Olympic flagbearer in Barcelona 1992. Credit: Facebook/Shiny Abraham Wilson

Wrestler Kartar Dhillon Singh was India’s flagbearer at the Olympics in 1988. Credit: Facebook/KartarSinghOfficial

In the 1988 Summer Olympics, Kishor Ratna was India’s flagbearer at the opening ceremony. Credit: DH Photo

Hockey player Zafar Iqbal carried the flag at the opening ceremony at 1984 Summer Olympics in LA, US. Credit: Facebook/Aligarh.Muslim.University

Boxer DN Devine Jones was the flagbearer of India at Rio Olympics 1972. Credit: Getty Images

Gurbachan Singh Randhawa carried India's flag during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Credit: Facebook/Rachhpal.Brar

Three-time Olympic gold-medallist Balbir Singh Senior was India’s flagbearer at the Olympics in 1956. Credit: Twitter/BalbirSenior

Hockey player Balbir Singh Senior carried the tricolor during Olympics in 1952. Credit: Twitter/BalbirSenior

Soccer player Tallimerain Ao was India’s flagbearer at the Olympics in 1948. Credit: AFP Photo

Major Dhyan Chand, the hockey wizard, was India’s flagbearer at the Olympics in 1936. Credit: Twitter/@WeAreTeamIndia

Hockey player Lal Shah Bhokhari carried India's flag at the 1932 Olympics. Credit: DH Photo

Sprinter Purma Banerjee was the first Indian to carry the national flag at the opening ceremony at the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. Credit: DH Photo