PV Sindhu honoured on being named Flag-bearer leading the Indian Contingent at CWG 2022 Opening Ceremony

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• Jul 28, 2022 | Poonam Nath

PV Sindhu has been named the Indian contingent's flagbearer for the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

Digital Desk: PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist, called it "a great honour" after the Indian Olympic Association chose her to be India's flagbearer at Thursday's 22nd Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

Sindhu stepped in after Neeraj Chopra, who had been announced as the flagbearer, withdrew from Birmingham 2022 due to an injury sustained during the recent Athletics World Championships in Oregon, USA.

"It's an honour to be given the responsibility of leading the contingent and flying the flag at such an august gathering." I am overjoyed and wish everyone in my contingent the best of luck in the Games. I would also like to thank the IOA for selecting me as the Flag-bearer, "Sindhu stated following the announcement on Wednesday.

Earlier, the IOA stated that Sindhu was one of three candidates for the role.

"The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is delighted to announce shuttler Ms PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medalist, as Team India's Flagbearer at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony."

"Along with Ms Sindhu, who medaled at the Rio 2016 Olympics and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, two other highly deserving athletes were considered to be Team India's flagbearer: weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and boxer Lovlina Borgohain, both Olympic medalists," the IOA said earlier in the day in a statement.

The three athletes were chosen by a four-member committee that included IOA Acting President Anil Khanna, IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta, IOA Treasurer Anandeshwar Panday, and Team India Chef de Mission Rajesh Bhandari. Sindhu was eventually chosen as the flagbearer for the Opening Ceremony by Khanna and Mehta.

"It is with great pleasure that we announce PV Sindhu as the flagbearer for Team India," said IOA Acting President Anil Khanna. The other two athletes, Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain were equally deserving, but we chose Sindhu because she has two Olympic medals. We anticipate Sindhu will continue to perform admirably at these Games.

"We are very happy to select Sindhu as the flagbearer for the Opening Ceremony," said IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta. We congratulate her and wish her and the other athletes on Team India the best of luck at the Commonwealth Games."

In addition, Rajesh Bhandari, Team India Chef de Mission for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, announced that the Indian contingent would be limited to 164 participants in the Parade of Nations during the Opening Ceremony on Thursday.