New Delhi: The grand Indian squad for the Commonwealth Games has been announced. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) yesterday announced the Indian team for the series which will be held from July 28 to August 8 in Birmingham, England. A total of 322 people including 215 male and female players and 107 coaches/administrators/staff/helpers have been included in it.
In 2018, in the hunt for medals at the Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast, Australia, India finished third after Australia and England.
Olympians Neeraj Chopra (javelin), PV Sindhu (badminton), Meerabai Sanu (weightlifting), Lovelina Borgohain (boxing), Bajrang Punia and Ravikumar Thakia (wrestling) are among the medal hopefuls. Along with them, reigning Commonwealth champions Manika Patra (Table Tennis), Vinesh Phogat (Wrestling), 2018 Asian Games gold medalist Tajinderpal Singh Door (Shot Throw), Hima Das (Athletics) and Amit Phangal (Boxing) will also be competing for medals.
The Indian team participates in a total of 15 sports. Apart from this, Indian sportsmen and women are participating in 4 categories of para sports competition for the differently abled. India is expected to bag medals in Boxing, Badminton, Hockey, Weightlifting, Women’s Cricket (Introductory) and Wrestling. In athletics, cycling, swimming and table tennis, India has performed well and the chances of medal hunt are bright. As the Commonwealth Games Village in Birmingham is set to be officially inaugurated on July 23, many Indian sportsmen and women have already camped there and are training intensively.