Warm welcome for Queen's baton

The Queen's baton that arrived here ahead of the Commonwealth games to be held at New Delhi, received a warm welcome despite heavy rain on Saturday.

The relay run of the baton began at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium at Oppalam with Lieutenant Governor Iqbal Singh handing over the torch to Maheshwari, a weightlifter from Puducherry. Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam participated in the event.

The stadium was filled with hundreds of schoolchildren giving a rousing welcome to the baton, waving the national flag. This was followed by playing of the national anthem after which the relay began.

The baton was carried by a number of sportspersons from the region and officials of various government departments.

Earlier, the Commonwealth Express, a special train exhibiting details of the games to be held in October, reached the Puducherry railway station in the morning. Hundreds of children accompanied by their parents visited the exhibition. The train will leave the station on Sunday.