Abhinav Bindra India’s flag-bearer

NEW DELHI - Olympic shooting champion Abhinav Bindra will be India’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here Sunday.

However, it was still not decided as to who all would carry the Queen’s baton on the last stretch of the relay into the stadium.

Olympic bronze medallists Vijender and Sushil Kumar apart from Saina Nehwal, Melbourne Commonwealth Games stars Samresh Jung and Akhil Kumar, and five time women’s world boxing champion Mary Kom are likely to carry the baton through the final stretch, though the official announcement of the names will be made in the evening, India’s chef de mission Bhubaneswar Kalita said at the Games Village Friday.

The Indian flag was raised at the Games Village at a colourful ceremony with school children performing yoga and traditional dance and music to enthrall the gathering.

The flag was raised amid huge cheers from the athletes and officials present.

“Believe me, I always have goose bumps when I watch the Indian flag being hoisted,” an emotional swimmer Rehan Pooncha told IANS.

“This is a proud moment for all of us. For an athlete it is a moment of a lifetime when you get to participate in such a big Games at home. I am waiting for the moment when I get off the starting blocks with the crowd cheering for me,” the swimmer said.

Addressing the Indian contingent, Village mayor Dalbir Singh said: “It is just like home away from home for all athletes. We have made all the arrangements in the sports village, keeping in mind the needs of both foreign and domestic sportspersons. This is for the first time that all training facilities have been provided within the Games Village,” Dalbir said.

Boxers Vijender, Akhil and Suranjoy Singh were there during the ceremony while other leading Indian athletes Sania Mirza, Saina and Bindra were not present.

“Now that the flag has been hoisted in the Village, we feel proud as Indians that the Games are being held here. The Games are to celebrate India,” Kalita said

“I want the Indian athletes to give their best in front of the home crowd and I am sure that India will finish second in the medals tally.”

Organing Committee vice chairman Randhir Singh, Indian Olympic Association senior vice preseident Vijay Kumar Malhotra were also present in the ceremony.

India will be competing in all 17 disciplines at the Games. The Indian contingent is be the biggest with 619 athletes (men 379, women 240).