Bhubaneswar: The Queen’s Baton for the 2022 Commonwealth Games (CWG) toured Puri, Konark and capital city in a relay journey on Saturday.
The Baton started its journey in Odisha from Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar with Olympians Dutee Chand and Sunita Lakra carrying it. The Baton was taken to Jagannath Temple and Blue Flag Beach in Puri and thereafter to Sun Temple at Konark.
Later, the Baton arrived at Raj Bhawan in Bhubaneswar where it was received by Governor Ganeshi Lal from Shradhanjali Samanatray, the ace footballer from the state. Then it was taken on a tour of Bhubaneswar before arriving at the Kalinga Stadium for the last-leg of the relay.
Sportspersons Rakhal Sethy, Roshan Minz, Dileshwar Rao and coaches Rajesh Singh, Kalu Charan Choudhry, Lucela Ekka, Lipika Mohapatra and St Victor Minz participated in the relay.
The Queen’s Baton relay culminated with Dutee Chand handing it over to commissioner-cum-secretary, Sports and Youth Services, R Vineel Krishna, at the Kalinga Stadium in presence of Bijay Nayak, executive chairperson, State Youth welfare Board. Later, it was handed over to Indian Olympic Association amidst an audience of sportspersons and officials of the state ecosystem.
In a video message, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said, “It gives me immense pleasure to welcome the Queen’s Baton Relay to Odisha. The Queen’s Baton Relay is one of the best traditions of the Commonwealth Games and it is an honour for Odisha to be a part of its epic journey. Odisha has produced many eminent sportspersons and we are extremely delighted that today, some of our finest sportspersons participated in the relay and became a part of the history of Commonwealth Games.”
“In Odisha, we believe in the power of sports and youth. This relay will go on to encourage and inspire our young athletes to dream big and shine at the Commonwealth Games. I wish grand success of the 2022 Commonwealth Games,” he added.
Thanking the chief minister in a video message, British Deputy High Commissioner, Kolkata, Nick Low, said, “I was delighted when I heard that the 2022 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay was coming to Odisha. Having recently been to Bhubaneswar, I visited the magnificent Kalinga Sports Complex and met Odisha FC. Let no one be in any doubt that Odisha has international class facilities, highly talented athletes and administrators and, most important of all, a palpable passion for sport. I know Odisha will give the Queen’s Baton Relay the warmest of welcomes. Birmingham looks forward to giving the athletes and officials from Odisha and from across India an equally warm reception.”
The Queen’s Baton that will depart Odisha for its next destination, Singapore, was given a spectacular and befitting send off at the Kalinga Stadium amidst fireworks that lit up the night sky.
Also Read: Queen’s Baton For 2022 Commonwealth Games Arrives In Bhubaneswar
Comments are closed.