The Commonwealth Games begin today. India will play the final slot in 10 events today. The finals will be held in events such as triathlon, gymnastics, cycling, and swimming. Malayali swimmer Sajan Prakash will enter the semi-finals of the 50m butterfly event. India will take on Australia today in women’s cricket, which was included in the Commonwealth Games for the first time.
The exclusion of shooting and archery, which has always won medals, is a setback for India. Of the total 503 medals won by India at the Commonwealth Games, around 130 were from shooting alone. Shiv Thapa will be stepping down in boxing today. Thapa is India’s strongest medal hope. India will take on Pakistan in mixed badminton today.
In women’s hockey, Ghana will be India’s opponents. India has a medal hope in both the events. Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who is a strong medal hope, has also been ruled out due to an injury. Last year, India won 66 medals.
In cricket, another medal hope, India are strong opponents today. India will take on defending world champions Australia. The match will start at 4:30 PM IST at Edgbaston. While India are strong enough to come up with a young line-up, it won’t be easy to beat Australia, who are leading in all areas.
The 22nd Commonwealth Games got off to a colorful start in Birmingham, England. Badminton player PV Sindhu and hockey team captain Manpreet Singh hoisted the Indian flag in the march past. A 215-member Indian contingent led by PV Sindhu marched to the stadium as a march past. It was Prince Charles who announced that the festival had officially begun. It will last 11 days with sporting talent from 72 countries lined up.