Chandigarh, Aug 11 - Shooter Abhinav Bindra, who won India's maiden Olympic gold medal at Beijing last year, will be the first to bear 2010 Commonwealth Games baton at the start of Queen's Baton Relay (QBR) in October.
Confirming this, Abhinav's father A.S. Bindra told IANS here Tuesday, 'Abhinav has got a formal invitation to receive the Commonwealth Baton from Queen Elizabeth II at her Buckingham Palace in London on October 29.'
'President of India Pratibha Patil will also attend that function. It is a matter of great pride for us that an Indian is going to start this historic 9,000 kilometre run,' Bindra added.
Queen's Baton Relay is the curtain-raiser of every Commonwealth Games.
Bindra created history Aug 11 last year by winning a gold in the 10m air-rifle.
The 2010 Commonwealth Games will be held at New Delhi Oct 3-14.