Indian athletes receive roaring reception at CWG closing ceremony

NEW DELHI - Led by sharpshooter Gagan Narang, who won four gold medals, Indian athletes made a grand entry at the closing ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. A deafening roar from the capacity crowd at the magnificent Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium greeted the Indian contingent, which brought the country a record 38 gold medals and its best ever second finish at the Games.

Following Narang was badminton player Saina Nehwal, who had missed the opening ceremony, but was the star of the day after creating history as she became the first Indian woman to win the singles gold. As Saina’s smiling face flashed on the giant screen, the crowd broke into a thunderous applause.

The Indian athletes turned out in their blue team jerseys, matching the colourful ambience of the stadium which had also hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1982 Asian Games. The Indian women athletes pinned tiny Indian flags in their hair as they marched along.

The athletes entered the field together as one big contingent, signifying bonds of friendship formed during the Games. The para athletes wheeled their way into the sprawling arena.

They were preceded by the flags of the Commonwealth, led by India and Scotland, with other flags following in alphabetical order.

Once on the field, the athletes waved their respective country’s flags and colourful scarves, and alongside the marshals formed the wheel of life which is an intrinsic part of the Delhi Commonwealth Games logo.

The athletes enjoyed themselves, some perched on the shoulders of their compatriots and waving flags, in a spirit of camaraderie, perhaps also with a sense of remorse at the Games coming to an end.