New Delhi: Weightlifting stars mirabaichanu and boxing ace Lovelina Borgohain He will lead the 124-member Indian delegation to participate in the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games on July 23.Olympic medalists Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain will carry India’s hopes and tricolors at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as the Indian Olympic Committee (IOA) on Saturday named the award-winning duo as India’s flag and baton bearers.The opening ceremony of the scaled-down Commonwealth Games will take place at the OVO Hydro on July 23, with two outstanding athletes leading India’s 124 athletes onto the field.Announcing the decision, Indian Olympic Committee President Usha said the honor reflected the outstanding contribution of the two athletes to Indian sports.“Mirabai and Lovlina will be honored at OVO Hydro, which is something to be proud of. “I wish both the girls and the entire team good luck. It is a matter of pride that two women have been selected to perform in the Indian team at the opening ceremony, which will set the tone and tone for the Olympics,” Usha said in a statement.
India’s biggest hope of two medals
Mirabhai and Lovelina head to Glasgow not only as India’s ceremonial leaders but also as one of the strongest medal contenders.Mirabai, who won a silver medal in the women’s 49kg category at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, has been the face of the Indian weightlifting community for nearly a decade. She won Commonwealth Games gold in Birmingham in 2022 and is also a multiple medalist at the World Championships.Although she narrowly missed out on a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Manipur weightlifter remains one of India’s top prospects in Glasgow.Meanwhile, Lovlina wrote history by winning a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics and becoming world champion in 2023. She also won a silver medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou and enters the Commonwealth Games as one of India’s leading boxing medal hopes.Usha praised both the athletes for consistently performing well on the biggest stage.“Both Mirabai and Lovlina have proven themselves time and time again on the international stage in India. They are currently training seriously in the UK to prepare for the Olympics,” she said.
India dispatches 124-member contingent
Earlier this week, the International Olympic Committee officially announced the departure of the Indian delegation while unveiling Olympic etiquette and competition equipment.India will field 124 athletes, both able-bodied and disabled, across 10 sports including athletics, boxing, weightlifting, cycling, gymnastics, judo, bowls and swimming, as well as multiple sports for the disabled.The delegation will be led by Chief of Mission Rohit Rajpal and Deputy Chief of Mission Ravi Bengani as India looks to continue its rich Commonwealth Games legacy.
