Two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist Mirabai Chanu and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain will be India’s flag and baton bearers at the CWG opening ceremony, which will take place on July 23 at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland.
At the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, the final baton bearer returns the King’s Baton to the King or his representative, who then reads the message aloud to declare the Games open.
The King’s Baton Relay serves as the Commonwealth Games’ equivalent of the Olympic Torch Relay.
Confirming the appointments, IOA President PT Usha said that the inclusion of Mirabai and Lovlina reflects their immense contribution to Indian sport and wished the entire contingent the very best for the Commonwealth Games.
“It’s a matter of pride, Mirabai and Lovlina will be doing the honours at the OVO Hydro. I wish both the girls and the entire contingent good luck. It’s a matter of pride that two women have been chosen to do the honours for Team India at the opening ceremony, which will set the tone and tenor for the Games,” Usha said in a media release.
“Both Mirabai and Lovlina have time and again proved themselves in the international arena for India. They are at present training in right earnest for the Games in the United Kingdom,” Usha added.
Mirabai, who will turn 32 on August 8, has been India’s premier weightlifter for almost a decade. She claimed the silver medal in the women’s 49kg category at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 before adding a Commonwealth Games gold at Birmingham in 2022.
Lovlina, meanwhile, won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics before clinching gold at the 2023 World Championships. She also bagged silver at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou and is expected to be one of India’s strongest medal hopes in Glasgow.
Commonwealth Games opening ceremony
The opening ceremony starts with the host country’s flag being raised, followed by the national anthem. The flags of the Commonwealth Games Federation, the previous host country and the next host country are also hoisted as part of the ceremony.
After the artistic segment of the ceremony, athletes parade into the stadium in nation-wise groups. The previous host country enters first, followed by the remaining contingents in alphabetical or continental order, with the host country’s athletes making the final entrance.
