Queen Elizabeth to launch Commonwealth Games today - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Olympic bronze medallist boxer Vijender Singh would be among India's star players to attend the launch of the Queen's Baton Relay for the Commonwealth Games 2010 on Thursday. Queen Elizabeth, as head of the Commonwealth, will present the baton to Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, indicating launch of the Commonwealth Games, at a ceremony at the Buckingham Palace on Thursday. Patil will be joined by a constellation of Indian players including Vijender Singh, 2008 Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra, Olympic bronze medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar, 1958 Commonwealth Games gold medallist athlete Milkha Singh, tennis player Sania Mirza and footballer Bhaichung Bhutia. For Vijender October 29 would be a double whammy as the day would also mark his 24th birthday. "It will be good and it will be my first birthday celebration with the Queen. It will be a memorable one and let's see what happens after we get there," said Vijender. "It's a very proud thing for us that we will dine with the Queen of England on October 29. In the opening ceremony of the baton we will be there with the President of India and it will be a proud moment for our Haryana also," said Mahipal Singh, Vijender's father who would accompany him. The 2010 Commonwealth Games will be India's first major international sports event after the 1982 Asian Games. New Delhi hosted the inaugural Asian Games in 1951 and again in 1982. Delhi had bagged the contract after beating the Canadian city Hamilton in the bid for rights to host the games. The Games will be staged in India for the first time and in Asia for the second time. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1998.