PV Sindhu named as India’s flag-bearer for Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

Birmingham, July 27: The Commonwealth Games is set to get underway in Birmingham from Thursday (July 28) and on the eve of the tournament, the IOA named PV Sindhu as India’s flag-bearer for the opening ceremony.

After naming Sindhu as the flag-bearer, the IOA also named Manpreet Singh as India’s flag-bearer along side the shuttler. The decision to name the Indian men’s hockey team captain as the second flag bearer was taken after the IOA was intimated by the Birmingham Games organising committee that two flagbearers - one male and one female - must be named by each nation.

A four-member committee, comprising IOA Acting President Anil Khanna, IOA Secretary General Mr Rajeev Mehta, IOA Treasurer Anandeshwar Panday, and Team India Chef de Mission Rajesh Bhandari, shortlisted the three athletes. Eventually, Khanna and Mehta backed Sindhu as the Flagbearer for the Opening Ceremony. The committee then added Manpreet Singh as the second athlete.

Talking about the decision Khanna, said, "It's with great pleasure that we announce PV Sindhu as the Flagbearer for Team India. The other two athletes, Ms Chanu and Ms Borgohain, were immensely deserving, too, but we went ahead with Ms Sindhu because she is a two-time Olympic medallist. We expect Ms 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. 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."

Meanwhile, Rajeev Mehta, IOA Secretary General, said, “We are very happy to select Ms Sindhu as the Flagbearer for the Opening Ceremony. We extend our congratulations to her and wish her, and the other athletes of Team India, the very best for the Commonwealth Games."

In addition, Rajesh Bhandari, Team India Chef de Mission, Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, announced that a maximum of 164 participants can take part from the Indian contingent in the Parade of Nations in the Opening Ceremony, scheduled for July 28, 2022.

“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," said Bhandari.