Commonwealth Games: PV Sindhu Indian team's flagbearer

New Delhi: The Indian Olympic Association confirmed on Friday that star shuttler PV Sindhu would be the country's flagbearer at the Commonwealth Games (CWG) opening ceremony in Birmingham. This is after Neeraj Chopra, who was scheduled to do the honour, backed out of the tournament, NDTV reports.

NDTV quotes an IOA official's statement, "The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is delighted to announce shuttler Ms PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, as the Flagbearer of Team India at the Opening Ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games."

The organization said that apart from Sindhu, boxer Lovlina Borgohain and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu were considered after Neeraj Chopra's injury.

It said that a four-member committee of IOA Acting President Mr Anil Khanna, IOA Secretary General Mr Rajeev Mehta, IOA Treasurer Mr Anandeshwar Panday, and Team India Chef de Mission Mr Rajesh Bhandari had shortlisted the three athletes and later zeroed on Sindhu.

IOA Acting President Anil Khanna said that the organization announces with great pleasure that Sindhu has been selected as Flagbearer for Tema India. Though the other two were immensely deserving, the organization went ahead with Sindhu because she is a two-time Olympic medallist, he added.

Neeraj Chopra backed out of CWG after he sustained an injury at the World Athletics Championship, where he won silver.