Sochi (Russia): India faced the ignominy of witnessing three of its athletes march without the national flag during the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics here on Friday night.

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 had to walk behind the IOC flag.