At a ceremony which began with the blowing of conch shells and British children reciting Sanskrit shlokas, Indian President Pratibha Patil became the first head of state of a host country to receive the Commonwealth Games baton from Queen Elizabeth II.

The Queen put her message, inscribed on a golden leaf, in the baton and handed it over to President Patil. Sports minister MS Gill received it from the President and passed the baton on to Suresh Kalmadi, who handed it to Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, the lead torch-bearer.

The 13 other baton-bearers, picked from among celebrated Indian and British athletes and sportspersons including Milkha Singh, tennis ace Sania Mirza and Beijing Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh, waited for their turns to run with the baton around the Queen Victoria Memorial, along with British Olympic champion and London 2012 Organising Committee chief Lord Sebastian Coe, Kelly Holmes and cricketer Monty Panesar.

The loudest cheers from the thousands of flag-waving spectators who thronged the Victoria Memorial circle were reserved for Milkha and 1983 World Cup-winning captain, Kapil Dev.

‘Still young enough to run’

When asked about how he felt being a part of the relay, Milkha, who had won the 400m gold at the Cardiff Commonwealth Games in 1958, said: “Most people don’t bother about old athletes like me, but I am still young enough to run.”

Deep purple was the colour of prominence in the forecourt of the Buckingham Palace, with the Queen and the Indian President flanked by Gill, Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell and Organising Committee chairman Kalmadi. They walked on the purple carpet to the stage, following a colourful pageant which showcased Indian culture. Fusion was the theme as Indian and British dancers performed Kathak, Bharatanatyam and Kathakali, and mixed the classical Indian dance forms with ballet to leave the audience in thrall.

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