Commonwealth Games 2022

The Games have been hit by a spate of Covid positive cases with more than a dozen positive cases daily in the last few days. With more athletes and team officials reaching here on Wednesday evening, the organizing committee of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and the Commonwealth Games Federation officials have defended the measures taken by them. "All our players have cleared the tests, there is no positive case in the Indian Contingent," informed Rajesh Bhandari, Chef de Mission of the Indian team on Wednesday evening

The decision to name Singh, who led the Indian men's hockey team to a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021, as the second flagbearer for the said occasion was arrived at after the IOA was intimated by the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee that two flagbearers -- one male and one female -- must be named by each country for the opening ceremony.

The second biggest multi-discipline sports extravaganza after the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games of Birmingham 2022 has competitors from 72 nations and territories entered to compete, equalling the record held by the 2002 edition held at Manchester, around a one-and-half-hour drive from here. The sports will open with a gala opening ceremony on Thursday with competitions set to start early on Friday.

Sindhu, who medalled at the Rio 2016 Olympics and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, two other highly deserving athletes were considered to be Team India's flagbearer: weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and boxer Lovlina Borgohain, who are both Olympic medallists. A four-member committee, comprising IOA acting president Anil Khanna, IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta, IOA treasurer Anandeshwar Panday, and Team India Chef de Mission Rajesh Bhandari, shortlisted the three athletes.

With the tough game against India on July 29, Meg Lanning's side doesn't want to take a chance. Also, with the India team reporting two Covid-19 cases, including all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar, the Australian team wants to take utmost precaution against the virus.

"The Indian Olympic Association has requested the players of the Indian contingent at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games to not spend much time in public places because of the threat of Covid-19, which can jeopardize the health and participation of the players," IOA said in a statement. "The players have been instructed to keep public interaction to a minimum and take safety precautions wherever needed," it added.

Lovlina on Monday took to social media to share her ordeal where she alleged that she had been going through 'mental harassment' due to her coaches being frequently changed. Confirming the news, an IOA official said that Sandhya Gurung on Tuesday received her accreditation for the Commonwealth Games. The Indian boxing squad arrived at the Games Village in Birmingham on Sunday night, following a 15-day training camp in Ireland.

She said that her preparations for the major events have being constantly impacted becasued of her coaches, who helped her to a historic medal in Tokyo, being removed without explanations. In a tweet, the 24-year-old boxer from Assam said that she has been facing problems in training after authorities denied entry to her coaches in the Commonwealth Games Village.

The excitement has been evident amongst the players (cricketers) who will, for the first time, wear the Indian jersey bearing the logo of the Commonwealth Games. Though the oppositions will be familiar, the setting will be a bit different. As part of the Indian sports contingent, the feeling around will be new for all these cricketers.

A total of 72 nations are participating in the upcoming CWG. This will be the third time England will be hosting the prestigious event following the London 1934 and Manchester 2002 Games. In every edition of CWG, organizers and the committee decide about removing and adding a few sports. This year the Birmingham 2022 organisers decided to drop archery and shooting and have instead included a few new games.