India receives CWG baton, but where is P T Usha?

Added: (Fri Oct 30 2009)

Pressbox (Press Release) - The formal countdown to next year's Delhi Commonwealth Games began on Thursday with the ceremonial Queen's Baton relay, which saw Queen Elizabeth II handing over the glittering baton to India's President Pratibha Patil here.

Before the Queen placed her message to the baton and passed it on Patil to mark the beginning of a year-long relay, a cultural show in sync with India's rich tradition was organised at the majestic Buckingham Palace.

The message was engraved onto a miniature 18-carat gold leaf that is symbolic of the ancient Indian palm leaf patras.

It is for the first time that the Head of a State attended the traditional ceremony and received the baton from the Queen.

Commonwealth Games Federation Michael Fennell presented the baton to the Queen.

President Patil passed on the baton to Indian Sports Minister M S Gill, who handed it over to Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi.

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