PV Sindhu, a double Olympic medalist in badminton, and Manpreet Singh, the captain of the Indian men’s hockey team, were selected on Wednesday to represent their nation as flag bearers at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony which helds in Birmingham (England) from today.
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The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) selected Manpreet as the second flagbearer after knowing from the organizers that each nation needed two flagbearers—one male and one female—while Sindhu’s name was announced from a shortlist of three competitors.
At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Manpreet guided the Indian men’s hockey team to a bronze medal.
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Organising commission informed the IOA that two Flagbearers, one male and one female, must be present by each nation for the Opening Ceremony. As a result, the IOA decided to name Mr. Singh as the second Flagbearer for the event.
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Neeraj Chopra, the Olympic champion and defending Commonwealth Games gold medalist from the Gold Coast four years prior, was anticipated to carry the flag.
However, a groyne injury sustained after winning silver at the World Championships caused him to withdraw, and the Indian Olympic Association chose Sindhu from a shortlist of three candidates to carry the banner.
Olympic medalists from the Tokyo Games—weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and boxer Lovlina Borgohain are the other two competitors who were also taken into consideration before IOA chose Sindhu.
“It’s an enormous honour to be granted the task of leading the group and flying the flag at such a serious gathering.” I’m overjoyed, and I wish everyone in my delegation the best of luck in the Games. Sindhu expressed her gratitude to the IOA for choosing her to carry the flag.
IOA committee for flagbearers
The IOA created a four-person committee to choose the flagbearers, which also comprised Team India Chef de Mission Rajesh Bhandari, Secretary General Rajeev Mehta, and Treasurer Anandeshwar Panday.
Although paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal and boxer Amit Panghal were initially included on the shortlist, Manpreet was selected by the committee.
“Mr. Manpreet Singh’s bronze medal at the Olympics in Tokyo last year ended India’s 41-year medal drought. He is a former international competitor and one of India’s all-time top athletes “Anil Khanna, the IOA’s interim president, issued a statement.
We are excited to announce him and Ms. Sindhu as the two Flagbearers who will march with the Indian delegation in the Parade of Nations tomorrow during the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in Birmingham.”
The most female athletes in the history of the Commonwealth Games will compete at the 2022 event.
A large number of 164 members of the Indian contingent may participate in the Parade of Nations during the Opening Ceremony, according to Team India Chef de Mission in Birmingham, Bhandari.
“The 164 will include team officials and athletes.” According to Bhandari, the final list will be established by this evening after taking into account the athletes’ availability.
At the Commonwealth Games, 215 athletes from India will participate.
