| Font Size |
Sportspersons apart, people from other walks of life participated in a big way. Embassy officials from the Commonwealth nations also took part in the countdown run. Several of the country’s star sportspersons — past and present, also participated. Former All England badminton champion Gopichand said: “India’s medal tally will certainly be better than Melbourne.”
Sydney bronze medallists Karnam Malleswari, hockey star Dhanraj Pillay and former international athlete Ashwani Nachappa were the other eminent personalities who took part in the countdown run.
But former international wrestler Satpal Singh, director sports, Delhi government, went a step ahead, saying India will win at least 28 gold medals. “Athletes from Delhi will contribute a major share,” he said on the occasion.
A Herculean task, but certainly the presence of a galaxy of former greats was a reminder of India’s legacy in disciplines like hockey at the global arena and athletics at the continental level. Zafar Iqbal, member of India’s gold winning team at the Moscow Olympics, Gurbachan Singh Randhawa, former international runner Gopal Saini, who still holds the national record in 3000m steeplechase, Asian gold medallists Hari Chand and Olympian Kunjurani Devi were also present on the occasion.
The Games logo was later unveiled at India Gate by Games Federation President Michael Fennell. Chairman of the 2010 Games organising committee, and chief of the Indian Olympic Association, Suresh Kalmadi said the Games plan is on the right track. “Successful organisation of the Delhi Commonwealth Games will help prepare the country to bid for the Olympic Games also,” he said.
Discuss this story on expressindia forums
|
|