India’s gold hunt may start with Chanu

The Rio Olympics silver medallist carried the tri-colour at the head of the Indian contingent, which also included fellow badminton stars HS Pranoy and Kidambi Srikanth. 

India have sent a total of 222 sportspersons to the Games. The Indians changed tradition for comfort in the ceremony, marching out in blazers and trousers rather than the conventional sarees and bandhgalas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended his best wishes to the Indian contingent, saying the whole country is behind the athletes. 

“All the best to the athletes representing India at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games! Our sportspersons have worked tremendously hard and the Games will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase their talent. 

Every Indian is cheering for our contingent,” Modi twitted. World champion weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and 2010 gold medallist Saina Nehwal are among the several Indian athletes who will be in action on the first day of the Commonwealth Games on Thursday. 

Australia celebrated its ancestry and native traditions in a soul-stirring Commonwealth Games opening ceremony but protests by indigenous aboriginals against the very idea of Commonwealth came as a poignant reminder of colonial brutalities. The buzz that seemed lacking in the build-up to the Games was present during the ceremony which was also attended by the British Royals.