Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games: Short takes

‘Was looking forward to being flagbearer’

New delhi: Olympics champion Neeraj Chopra expressed his disappointment at losing out the opportunity of leading the country as the flagbearer at the opening ceremony of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games tomorrow. The 24-year-old was all set to defend his title in Birmingham, but pulled out of the event after his medical team advised a month’s rest following an MRI scan that revealed a minor injury. “... I am hurt about not being able to defend my title and missing out on another opportunity to represent the nation,” Chopra said. “I am especially disappointed about losing out on the opportunity to be Team India’s flagbearer at the opening ceremony, an honour I was looking forward to having in a few days’ time. For now, I will focus on my rehabilitation and hope to be back in action very soon,” he added.

Bhatt gives up room for Lovlina’s coach

Birmingham: The Indian women’s boxing team’s head coach, Bhaskar Bhatt, has moved out of his room at the Games Village here to accommodate Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain’s personal coach Sandhya Gurung. Bhatt has checked into a hotel nearby. “I have moved to a hotel which is a 10-minute walk from the Village,” Bhatt said. Bhatt, who took over the senior women’s head coach’s job last year, still has access to all the venues and the Village.

Anas included in 4x400m relay team

New Delhi: National record holder Mohammed Anas Yahiya has been included in India’s 4x400m relay team for the Commonwealth Games in place of an injured athlete. Anas, who was not named in the initial squad of 37 announced last month, replaced Rajesh Ramesh in the relay team.

Not thinking of Australia yet: Manpreet

Birmingham: A maiden gold at the Commonwealth Games is the ultimate goal but Indian men’s hockey team captain Manpreet Singh said the players will take one game at a time. “Right now, we are focusing on the group stage matches and not thinking about Australia at all,” Manpreet said. — Agencies

Breakdown of India’s medals at 2018 CWG

Shooting: 16 | Wrestling: 12 | Boxing: 9 | Weightlifting: 9 Table tennis: 8 | Badminton: 6 | Athletics: 3 | Squash: 2 Para Powerlifting: 1

16 MEDALS won by India in shooting at the 2018 CWG. India won seven gold medals in the discipline. The country’s next best haul of gold medals came in wrestling (5) and weightlifting (5)

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