JOIN USThe Queen’s Baton for 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Saturday visited the historic India Gate surrounded by top Indian athletes and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) officials.
The baton, which carries the Queen’s message, arrived in India on Friday night at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport before leaving for Agra on Saturday morning. At Agra, it was received by senior state officials of Uttar Pradesh Olympic Association officials at the historic Taj Mahal and was carried to Agra Fort. It was given a ceremonial reception at Uttar Pradesh border by UP Olympic Association senior vice-president Shyam Singh Yadav, secretary General Anadeshwar Pandey and sportspersons.
The baton was carried by Glasgow Organising Committee vice-chairperson and Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) secretary Louise Martin. India, on account of being the host the last time, is the first stoppage for the baton’s journey.
“We want sportspersons to come and hold the baton. Most countries are not holding the relays, we are taking it mostly to historic places,” Martin said.
The baton returned to the capital’s Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Saturday afternoon where it was received by discus thrower Krishna Poonia, wrestlers Yogeshwar Dutt, Amit Kumar, Anil Kumar and Anita Tomar, hockey players VR Raghunath, PR Sreejesh, SV Sunil and Birendra Lakra, shooter Samaresh Jung and weightlifter K Ravi Kumar.
Among the IOA officials GS Mander, S Reghunathan and Bagish Pathak were present along with Youth Affairs Secretary Rajiv Gupta, who is also looking after the Sports Department as an additional charge, SAI director-general SAI JJ Thomas, and SAI secretary Neeraj Kansal.
The IOA acting president, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, in statement said: “I wish the Queen’s baton a very successful and eventful relay till it reaches its final destination in Glasgow on 23rd July 2014”.
The Baton will be taken to Qutub Minar by the athletes and IOA officials on Sunday afternoon before leaving for Dhaka on Monday morning.