India wins right to fly flag at the Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the decision yesterday, saying it was the first time in history that a suspension of a national Olympic committee had been lifted during the games.

Three Indian athletes marched into the opening ceremony last Friday under the Olympic flag and were allowed to compete as independent athletes.

But after a special flag-raising ceremony in the Olympic Village on Day 5 of the Sochi Games, they can compete for India.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) ended the stand-off with the IOC by holding elections on Sunday and installing world squash chief Narayana Ramachandran as president.

India was suspended by the IOC in December 2012 for not holding elections according to its own constitution and for electing tainted officials, notably president Abhay Chautala and secretary-general Lalit Bhanot.

Both of them were ineligible to stand this time, according to the new IOA constitution.

Bhanot is charged with corruption during the organisation of the 2010 Commonwealth Games while Chautala is charged in a recruitment scam not related to sport. Both men deny any wrongdoing.