Ace double-trap shooter Rajyavardhan Rathore, India's first-ever Olympic individual silver medallist, will lead the 57-member contingent from his country and will carry India's flag during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games, Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi said in a statement Monday.

Rathore leads nine-member Indian shooting team, which has two reigning world champions in its ranks: Manavjit Singh Sandhu (trap) and Abhinav Bindra (10m air rifle).

"Our shooters are on the top of the list and they are raring to go," Kalmadi said at a press conference last week.

The 15 shooting events begin on August 9, a day after the opening ceremony.