New Delhi, India, January 13, 2022: Tokyo Olympics silver medallist wrestler Ravi Dahiya kicked off the Indian leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games with a symbolic run in the nation’s capital New Delhi on Wednesday, January 12.
The Queen’s Baton, which arrived in India on Monday, January 10, was handed over to Dahiya by the British High Commissioner to India, Alex Ellis, at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium.
“It feels great to be part of the Baton Relay. My preparations for the Commonwealth Games are going on in full swing and I am confident of winning a gold medal in Birmingham,” said Dahiya, who won Olympic silver in the men's freestyle 57kg at Tokyo 2020.
In Delhi, the Queen’s Baton Relay was attended by Indian Olympic Association officials, including President Narinder Batra and Secretary General Rajeev Mehta, among others.
British High Commissioner Ellis said: “I am delighted to be here at the start of the Baton Relay in India. The relationship between India and England is very good and sport is absolutely fundamental to it. It is the 75th anniversary of India’s independence this year and I think sport is one thing that brings both the countries together.”
The Queen’s Baton Relay will also be held in Bengaluru on Friday and Bhubaneswar on Saturday. It was scheduled to travel to Ahmedabad on Thursday but that has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.