Two-time Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu was chosen as the flag-bearer of the Indian contingent for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham.

It is to be noted that Sindhu was the flag-bearer at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. She won the silver medal in women’s singles in that edition and will now look to add a gold medal to her medal collection.

“The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is delighted to announce shuttler P.V. Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, as the Flag-bearer of Team India at the Opening Ceremony,” the IOA statement read.

Two other highly deserving athletes were considered to be Team India’s Flag-bearer: weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and boxer Lovlina Borgohain, who are both Olympic medallists.

Sindhu won a bronze medal in Tokyo Olympics 2020 and emerged victorious in the Singapore Open. She had also won the Syed Modi International and Swiss Open earlier in the year. Sindhu will kick off her CWG 2022 campaign on August 3. The opening ceremony will take place on Thursday (July 28) at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.

Neeraj Chopra disappointed

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra has expressed his disappointment at losing out on the opportunity of leading the country as flag-bearer at the opening ceremony of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games on Thursday after he sustained a “minor” groin strain during his historic silver medal-winning campaign at the recent World Championships.

“… I am hurt about not being able to defend my title and missing out on another opportunity to represent the nation. I am especially disappointed about losing out on the opportunity to be Team India’s flag-bearer at the opening ceremony, an honour I was looking forward to having in a few day’s time,” Chopra wrote on his social media handles. “For now, I will focus on my rehabilitation and hope to be back in action very soon. I would like to thank the entire country for all the love and support I’ve received over the past few days, and urge you all to join me in cheering on my fellow Team India athletes in Birmingham over the coming weeks. Jai Hind.”