Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain to carry Indian flag at Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) announced on Saturday that Olympic medallists Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain will serve as India's flagbearers at the opening ceremony of the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The ceremony, part of a scaled-down multi-sport event, is scheduled for July 23 at the OVO Hydro.

“It is a matter of pride that Mirabai and Lovlina will be doing the honours. I wish both the girls and the entire contingent good luck. It is a matter of pride that two women have been chosen to do the honours for Team India at the opening ceremony, which will set the tone and tenor for the Games,” the IOA said in a media release.

Mirabai Chanu, who turns 32 on August 8, has been a leading weightlifter for India for nearly a decade. She won a silver medal in the women’s 49kg category at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and followed it up with gold at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Although she did not replicate that success at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she remains a strong medal hope for India in Glasgow. She is also a multiple medallist at the World Championships.

Lovlina Borgohain claimed a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics before winning gold at the 2023 World Championships. She also secured a silver medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. She is expected to be among India’s leading medal contenders in Glasgow.

On July 10, the Sports Ministry approved a 191-strong Indian contingent, including 126 athletes and 51 team officials. The Ministry made it clear that it will not bear the expenses of officials who are elected members of the IOA Executive Committee. The notification stated that a detailed report on the contingent’s performance, including action photographs, must be submitted to the Ministry within 30 days of the team’s return to India. India’s athlete contingent consists of 78 male and 48 female athletes.

“The IOA will ensure that any person holding an elected position in the Executive Committee of the IOA, any National Sports Federation, or any sports body, whose name is included in the list of team officials, will be treated at no cost to the Government,” the Ministry stated. The definition of team officials includes coaches, support staff, medical staff, and contingent officials.

Chef de Mission Rohit Rajpal is the sole member of the contingent staff who is a member of the IOA Executive Committee. If the Ministry’s directive applies, the cost of his stay in Glasgow will not be covered by the government.