Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain to Lead India at Commonwealth Games 2026 Opening Ceremony

Indian Athletes to Represent at Commonwealth Games 2026

New Delhi, July 18: Olympic medalists Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain are set to represent India at the Commonwealth Games 2026 opening ceremony in Glasgow. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has appointed Mirabai as the flag bearer and Lovlina as the baton bearer for this prestigious event.

The opening ceremony will take place at the OVO Hydro on July 23, marking the start of India's journey in the Games, as reported by Olympics.com.

IOA president PT Usha announced this decision on Saturday, expressing her pride in the two accomplished athletes. She stated, “It is a matter of pride that Mirabai and Lovlina will be doing the honours at the OVO Hydro. I wish both the girls and the entire contingent good luck.”

Mirabai, who earned a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, will proudly carry the Indian flag during the athletes' parade, while Lovlina, a bronze medalist from the same Olympics, will carry the ceremonial King’s Baton.

For the Glasgow edition, each of the 74 Commonwealth nations will receive a uniquely designed baton that reflects its culture and identity. These batons will be united during the opening ceremony before the official commencement of the Games.

This ceremony will differ from the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where each nation had two flag bearers—one male and one female. In Birmingham, badminton star PV Sindhu and men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh led the Indian team.

Interestingly, both Mirabai and Lovlina were contenders for this honour four years ago, but the final decision favoured Sindhu and Manpreet.

Heading to Glasgow, Mirabai is considered one of India’s top medal prospects. The 31-year-old weightlifter is a two-time Commonwealth Games champion, having won gold at Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022. She will compete in the women's 48kg category.

Lovlina, on the other hand, aims to secure her first Commonwealth Games medal after narrowly missing out at both Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022. The 28-year-old, a former world and Asian champion, will participate in the women's 75kg boxing event.

The Commonwealth Games 2026 is scheduled from July 23 to August 2 in Glasgow, with India sending a contingent of over 120 athletes across eight able-bodied sports and five para sports, aiming to enhance its legacy at this multi-sport event.