The Gold Coast XXI Commonwealth Games, the biggest sports carnival of the Commonwealth countries, begins today (Wednesday) at the Carrara Stadium of Queensland in Australia through a gala opening ceremony, reports UNB.
Over 6,600 leading sportsmen of the 71 Commonwealth countries will battle for 275 gold medals in 19 disciplines of sports of the 11-day event.
Celebrated shooter Abdullah Hel Baki will carry the Bangladesh national flag in the march past of the opening ceremony.
Australia is hosting the Commonwealth Games for the 5th time after Sydney in 1938, Perth in 1962, Brisbane in 1982 and Melbourne in 2006.
The Bangladesh team consisting of 26 athletes will compete in six disciplines of sports -- Athletics, Swimming, Shooting, Weightlifting, Boxing and Wrestling -- in the Commonwealth Games eyeing medals in their prospective shooting events.
Vice-president of Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) Nazimuddin Chowdhury is acting as the Chef de-mission of the Bangladesh contingent.
The Bangladesh contingent reached Gold Coast in several batches with a 16-member shooting team leaving the capital for Australia first on March 24 followed by Athletics, Swimming, Boxing and Weightlifting teams on March 31. The 3rd and the last batch of three-member wresting team -- two wrestlers and one official -- will fly on April 9.
Bangladesh will start their campaign in the Commonwealth Games on April 5 with swimming and boxing competitions after the opening ceremony.
Bangladesh's most prospective shooting events will begin on April 8 where Armin Asha and Ardina Ferdous will compete in 10-metre air pistol while Rabbi Hasan Munna and Risalatul Islam in 10-metre air rifles.
Swimmer Mahamudun Nabi will compete in the men's 50-metre freestyle while boxer Robin Miah competing in men's 60 kgs weight category on Thursday.
The athletics unit comprises of two athletes and one official while swimming team three swimmers and one official, boxing two boxers and one official and weightlifting team consists of five lifters and an official.
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