New Delhi - Olympic silver medallist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore will be India's flag-bearer at the opening ceremony of the 18th Commonwealth Games that start in Melbourne on March 15.

This was announced by Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi at a function to send off the first batch of competitors for the quadrennial mega event. Long jumper Anju Bobby George carried the Indian flag at the last edition of the Games at Manchester.

The IOA is sending a 270-strong contingent to Melbourne, including 186 athletes and 43 coaches. The large batch assumes significance, as New Delhi would host the next edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

President of Weightlifting Federation of India H J Dora will be the chef-de-mission.

India would be participating in 10 disciplines -- athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, gymnastics, men's and women's hockey, shooting, swimming, table tennis and weightlifting as per Agency reports and Chennai Online.