Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain to Lead India at Commonwealth Games 2026 Opening Ceremony

India's Commonwealth Games 2026 campaign will begin with two of the country's most celebrated Olympians leading the contingent into the opening ceremony.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has named Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu as India's flag bearer, while Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain will serve as the country's baton bearer during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on July 23.

The accomplished duo will lead India's 126-member contingent into The OVO Hydro, marking the official start of the country's campaign at the multi-sport event, which runs until August 2. The announcement is a fitting recognition for two athletes who have consistently delivered on the biggest international stages and continue to inspire a new generation of Indian sport.

Mirabai Chanu will have the honour of carrying the Indian tricolour during the traditional athletes' parade at the opening ceremony. The 31-year-old weightlifting star has been one of India's most successful athletes over the past decade, winning medals at almost every major international competition. Her breakthrough came with a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, making her only the second Indian weightlifter to win an Olympic medal. She also captured the world title in 2017 and has remained among the world's elite lifters ever since.

The Commonwealth Games have been particularly special for Mirabai.

She won gold at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games before successfully defending her title at Birmingham 2022, establishing herself as one of the most dominant weightlifters in the competition's history. Heading into Glasgow, Mirabai is once again among India's strongest medal prospects and will compete in the women's 48kg category, where she is widely expected to challenge for a third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal.

Lovlina to Carry India's Baton

While Mirabai will lead the contingent with the national flag, Lovlina Borgohain has been entrusted with another unique responsibility. The Assam boxer will carry India's ceremonial King's Baton, a tradition that has been introduced in a new format for Glasgow 2026. Unlike previous editions, each of the 74 Commonwealth nations and territories has received its own specially designed baton reflecting its culture and identity. These individual batons will come together during the opening ceremony before the Games are officially declared open.

Lovlina's selection as India's baton bearer reflects her remarkable rise over the past few years. After winning bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, she went on to become a world champion in 2023 and added an Asian Games silver medal later the same year, cementing her status as one of India's finest boxers.

Unlike Mirabai, however, one achievement still eludes Lovlina.

The Commonwealth Games medal. She returned empty-handed from both Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022, making Glasgow an opportunity to complete one of the few missing pieces in her already impressive career.

Competing in the 75kg division, the 28-year-old will be eager to translate her world-level success onto the Commonwealth stage.

The opening ceremony will also mark a significant change from previous Commonwealth Games. At Birmingham 2022, every nation entered the stadium with two flag bearers, one male and one female.

Glasgow 2026 introduces a different format. Each country will instead be represented by a flag bearer alongside a baton bearer, adding fresh significance to the King's Baton Relay, one of the Commonwealth Games' most enduring traditions. For India, the honour has gone to two athletes who have repeatedly demonstrated excellence, leadership and resilience throughout their careers.

Welcoming the announcement, IOA President PT Usha congratulated both athletes and expressed confidence in the Indian contingent.

"It is a matter of pride that Mirabai and Lovlina will be doing the honours at the OVO Hydro. I wish both the girls and the entire contingent good luck," Usha said.

Her words reflect the importance of the occasion as India prepares to send one of its strongest contingents to the Games. The country will compete across eight able-bodied sports and five para sports, with more than 120 athletes representing India during the 11-day competition.

Both Mirabai and Lovlina know what it means to perform under pressure. They have stood on Olympic podiums, battled through injuries, overcome setbacks and consistently delivered when expectations were highest. Mirabai heads into Glasgow determined to return to winning ways after narrowly missing out on a medal at the Paris Olympics. Despite that disappointment, she remains one of the biggest names in world weightlifting and one of India's safest medal hopes.

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Lovlina, meanwhile, continues to build on an already decorated career. Since her Olympic breakthrough in Tokyo, she has established herself among the world's best middleweight boxers and now has another opportunity to add a Commonwealth Games medal to her growing list of achievements.

As they walk into the OVO Hydro carrying India's colours and the King's Baton, the two Olympians will symbolise much more than individual success. They represent the journey of Indian sport over the past decade, one built on perseverance, consistency and excellence across multiple disciplines.

For the 126 athletes following behind them, it will be a moment of immense pride. For millions of Indians watching back home, it will mark the beginning of another Commonwealth Games campaign filled with hope, ambition and the belief that more memorable performances are yet to come.