Deafening roar greets Indian contingent at CWG opener (Second Lead)
October 4th, 2010 - 12:09 am ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Oct 3 (IANS) The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was drowned in a deafening roar as the Indian contingent marched for the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony with even President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh joining the spectators in giving the national athletes a standing ovation here Sunday.
The large Indian contingent of 619 - the men in maroon kurtas and black pyjamas with a golden stole and the women in maroon saris - were led by Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra, waving to the crowd, and entered after the last of the athletes and officials from other countries had stepped into the sprawling stadium.
Bindra walked with the tri-colour fluttering high with the entire contingent in tow carrying mini-flags as they waved and acknowledged the adulation.
Later, the baton runners thrilled a packed crowd of 65,000. Beijing Olympic bronze medallist boxer Vijender Singh led the four baton runners - five time women’s champion boxer Mary Kom, shooter Samresh Jang and Beijing Olympics bronze medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar at the stadium as the aerostat depicted the baton’s journey, the longest in Commonwealth Games history.
Sushil handed the baton to Prince Charles who read the Queen’s message and declared the Games open, with President Pratibha Patil saying: “Let the Games begin.”
The sporting action begins Monday.
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- Charles, Patil to open Games, Delhi under security cover (Night Lead Games) - Oct 01, 2010
- Bindra to be the flag bearer, confusion over torch bearers names (Lead) - Oct 01, 2010
- Abhinav Bindra India's flag-bearer - Oct 01, 2010
- India's Beijing Olympic stars among six CWG brand ambassadors - Jul 27, 2010
- Bindra, Vijender part of Samsung Sports Ratna programme - Jun 29, 2010
- President Patil inaugurates 2010 C'wealth Games with Prince Charles - Oct 03, 2010
- Facilities for Games put Delhi a decade ahead, says Kalmadi (Lead) - Sep 30, 2010
- A year to cherish for India's athletes (2010 in Retrospect) - Dec 28, 2010
- Boxers will better their Melbourne performance: Vijender - Aug 12, 2010
- Top Indian sports persons check into Village - Sep 30, 2010
- India handed over Commonwealth Games baton in London - Oct 29, 2009
- CWG: Tejaswani, Lajjakumari win silver medal in 50m rifle - Oct 05, 2010
- Abhinav Bindra takes athletes' oath at CWG opening ceremony - Oct 03, 2010
- Bindra to lead Indian sportspersons in Queen's Baton Relay - Oct 23, 2009
Tags: abhinav, aerostat, beijing olympics, champion boxer, commonwealth games opening ceremony, games history, jawaharlal nehru, jawaharlal nehru stadium, kurtas, manmohan singh, mini flags, olympic gold medallist, president pratibha patil, prime minister manmohan, prime minister manmohan singh, prince charles, standing ovation, sushil kumar, time women, tri colour