As Olympic gold medallist and Indian badminton star PV Sindhu was named the flagbearer of the Indian contingent at the Commonwealth Games 2022, she expressed her happiness. Sindhu is a veteran at the Commonwealth Games, having won the gold medal at the 2018 edition in Gold Coast, Australia.

“It is a great honour to be bestowed with the responsibility to lead the contingent and hold the flag at such an august gathering. I am extremely happy and I wish all my fellow contingent all the best for the Games,” Sindhu said in a Badminton Association of India (BAI) statement. 

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“I would like to thank IOA also for choosing me as the flag bearer,” she added.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) announced PV Sindhu as the flagbearer on Wednesday, after Neeraj Chopra, who was expected to become the Indian flagbearer, picked up an injury and went out of contention.

The IOA also announced Indian men’s hockey team captain Manpreet Singh as the second flagbearer, who is also set to make his 300th appearance for the national team on Sunday in the campaign opener against Ghana.

Apart from Sindhu, weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu and boxer Lovlina Borgohain, both of whom won medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. were considered to become the Indian flagbearers. However, after careful consideration, the IOA decided to choose PV Sindhu, who is the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals as well as a gold medallist at the CWG.

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The decision was taken by a four-member committee which includes the Acting President of the IOA Anil Khanna, Secretary General Rajeev Mehta, Treasurer Anandeshwar Panday and Chef de Mission of the Indian contingent at the CWG, Rajesh Bhandari.

“We are very happy to select 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,” Rajeev Mehta said.

Team India Chef de Mission Rajesh Bhandari also announced that a maximum of 164 athletes from the Indian contingent would be taking part in the Parade of Nations during the Opening Ceremony.