Sindhu named India's flag-bearer for Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

Shuttler P V Sindhu has been named the flag-bearer of the Indian contingent for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games starting in Gold Coast, Australia, next month.

The opening ceremony will be held on April 4.

According to sources in the Indian Olympic Association, 2016 Rio Olympic silver medallist, Sindhu's rising stature in recent years clinched the issue in her favour for the coveted position.

Having won a silver medal at the Rio Olympics two years ago, the Hyderabad-based World No. 3 Sindhu is one of the favourites to win the badminton women's singles title in Gold Coast.

In the last Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014, Sindhu bagged a bronze in women's singles.

In the last three Commonwealth Games, the prestigious position during the march past of the opening ceremony had always gone to a member of the shooting squad.

While pistol shooter Vijay Kumar was the flag-bearer in 2014, 2008 Olympic champion shooter Abhinav Bindra had the honour when India hosted the Games in 2010.

At the 2006 Melbourne Games, India's flag-bearer was double trap shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who is currently the sports minister.

Image: PV Sindhu

Photograph: Nils Meilvang/Scanpix Denmark/Reuters