Top sportspersons, new weapon systems to be part of RD parade

India's top sports personalities including veteran Olympian Milkha Singh, sprinter P T Usha, boxer Vijender Singh among others would be part of the Republic Day parade tableaux, that would focus on the Commonwealth Games that India will host later this year.

India's top sports personalities including veteran Olympian Milkha Singh, sprinter P T Usha, boxer Vijender Singh among others would be part of the Republic Day parade tableaux, that would focus on the Commonwealth Games that India will host later this year.

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Other sportspersons to accompany the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports tableaux would be former hockey captains Ajitpal Singh and Zafar Iqbal, shooter Samresh Jung, and swimmer Khajan Singh, a Defence Ministry spokesperson said said today.

"A strong and resurgent India will be celebrating Republic Day tomorrow. This year’s parade will highlight the nation’s achievements in various fields, the military prowess, scintillating display of air power as also country’s rich and diverse cultural heritage," he added.

One of the highlights will be 'Arjun' Main Battle Tank as it will be brought to the parade for the first time by the Army, which inducted the first regiment equipped with it last year.

The other weaponry to be showcased this year include the 'Smerch' Multiple Launch Rocket System bought from Russia in 2007, Armoured Engineer Recce Vehicle, Sarvatra Bridge, Electronic Warfare System, Samyukta, ICV BMP-II 'Sarath', Ambulance Tracked and ALH 'Dhruv'.