Double Olympic medallist badminton ace PV Sindhu was on Wednesday named flagbearer of the Indian contingent for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games to be held here on Thursday.
Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, who was also the defending champion in the Commonwealth Games having won the Gold in Gold Coast four years ago, was expected to be the flagbearer.
But a groin injury following his Silver medal at the World Championships forced him to pullout and the Indian Olympic Association picked Sindhu to be the flagbearer from a three-member shortlist.
Tokyo Olympics medallists — weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and boxer Lovlina Borgohain are the other two athletes, who were also considered before IOA decided to go for Sindhu.
“It’s with great pleasure that we announce Sindhu as the flagbearer for Team India,” acting IOA president Anil Khanna said in a release.
Sindhu was also the flagbearer at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.
“The other two athletes, Chanu and Borgohain, were immensely deserving too, but we went ahead with Sindhu because she is a two-time Olympic medallist. We expect Sindhu will continue to do well and perform with excellence at these Games.”
The 2022 edition of the Commonwealth Games has the largest contingent of female athletes in the history of the Games.
“So the IOA sensed fit that we spotlight our commitment to gender equity, in adherence to the spirit of the Olympic Charter, by shortlisting three women athletes for the prestigious role of Team India’s Flagbearer at the 2022 Commonwealth Games,” Khanna said.
“We hope that watching Ms Sindhu lead Team India with the Indian flag in her hand at the Opening Ceremony will inspire millions of girls in India to take up sports.”
The IOA had a four-member committee to pick the flagbearer which also included secretary general Rajeev Mehta, treasurer Anandeshwar Panday, and Team India Chef de Mission Rajesh Bhandari.
“We extend our congratulations to her and wish her, and the other athletes of Team India, the very best for the Commonwealth Games,” Mehta said.
Team India Chef de Mission at Birmingham, Bhandari said a maximum of 164 participants can take part from the Indian contingent in the Parade of Nations in the Opening Ceremony.
“The count of 164 will include athletes and team officials. The final list will be drawn up by this evening, gauging the availability of the athletes,” Bhandari said.
A total of 215 athletes from India will be competing at the Commonwealth Games.
A former world champion, Sindhu is one of the favourites to win the women’s singles Gold medal in Birmingham, having won the Silver and Bronze in the last two editions at Gold Coast and Glasgow.
Chopra disappointed
Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra has expressed his disappointment at losing out the opportunity of leading the country as flag bearer at the opening ceremony of Birmingham Commonwealth Games on Thursday after he sustained a “minor” groin strain during his historic Silver medal-winning campaign at the recent World Championships.
The 24-year-old superstar was all set to defend his title in Birmingham, but pulled out of
the multi-sport event after his
medical team advised a month’s
rest after MRI scan revealed a minor injury.
“... I am hurt about not being able to defend my title and missing out on another opportunity to represent the nation. I am especially disappointed about losing out on the opportunity to be Team India’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony, an honour I was looking forward to having in a few day’s time,” Chopra wrote on his social media handles.
“For now, I will focus on my rehabilitation and hope to be back in action very soon. I would like to thank the entire country for all the love and support I’ve received over the past few days, and urge you all to join me in cheering on my fellow Team India athletes in Birmingham over the coming weeks. Jai Hind.”