CWG OC obliges Vijender, QBR to make Bhiwani stopover

The Queen's Baton Relay for this year's Commonwealth Games will make a stopover at Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh's hometown Bhiwani after its route was re-worked at the boxer's request.

The Queen's Baton Relay for this year's Commonwealth Games will make a stopover at Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh's hometown Bhiwani after its route was re-worked at the boxer's request.

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An elated Vijender, the reigning world number one in the middle weight category, said the baton will come to his village Kaluwas in the Haryana district.

"I am very happy that the Games' Organising Committee re-worked the route to accommodate Bhiwani and most importantly my village Kaluwas. I thank OC chairman Mr Suresh Kalmadi for accepting my request," the 24-year-old World Championship bronze medallist said.

"It is a huge honour and is almost unbelievable," he added.

The baton is currently on a tour of all the 28 states of India and will reach the Games' host city, Delhi on October 3, the day the event would begin with an opening ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

An OC official said the baton would make a Bhiwani stopover on September 28 tentatively.

Vijender was among the first team of baton bearers who received it at the Buckimgham Palace before it embarked on a tour of 71 Commonwealth nations.

He was also present at the Wagah Border when the baton landed in India from Pakistan.