The Beijing Olympic torch relay began in New Delhi on Thursday on the historic Rajpath, braving threats from protesting Tibetans.The short 2.3 km journey of the torch began at Raisina Hill, with former wrestler Satpal being the first person to carry it in the relay that took place under heavy security.The torch was lit at Raisina Hill by Indian Olympic Association Chief Suresh Kalmadi.The relay, comprising around 70 participants from all walks of life, saw the torch quickly changing hands as it made its way to the India Gate, where a cauldron waited to be lit.The torch, that had arrived in Delhi in the early hours today, was greeted by schoolchildren who had lined up alongside the Rajpath, waving the Indian tricolour and Chinese flags.The other participants in the run were former Indian Hockey team captain Zafar Iqbal, ex-hockey player Aslam Sher Khan and boxer Akhil Kumar.The relay also featured some Chinese runners, who then passed it on to Indian weightlifter Kunjurani.The participants, among whom were Bollywood heartthrob Saif Ali Khan, ran within a circle of security personnel.Khan passed on the flame, that earlier made a grand entry at Rajpath in a long convoy, to former hockey captain Dhanraj Pillay.The relay, that has been through troubled times in its London and Paris editions, has seen the likes of Bhaichung Bhutia, Kiran Bedi, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Gandhi, Jaspal Rana and Ayaan Ali not participating owing to various reasons.Besides sportspersons, there were many people from various walks of life who participated in the relay.There were very few spectators for the relay possibly due to the tight security arrangements put in place.The relay has so far been smooth although Tibetan refugees staged protests in various parts of the capital coinciding with the torch run in protest against the Chinese administration.Protecting the torch was a group of escort runners who formed a ring around it.Each runner was getting barely a minute to carry the coveted flame on the shortened run-up on the Rajpath.The torch, watched by 20 Chinese commandos in one of the most sensitive stretches of the global run of the flame, will have a truncated run of 2.3 kms from Rashtrapati Bhavan to the India Gate.Adding glamour to the run, Bollywood actress and star of the hit film Chak De India Sagarika Ghatge also made a brief appearance in the run.Former star athlete P T Usha, former Olympic bronze medalist weightlifter Karnam Malleshwari and world shooting champion Manavjit Singh Sandhu were among the sportspersons who took part in the relay.Bringing excitement into the relay was Bollywood star Aamir Khan. He passed on the flame to IOA General Secretary and former Olympian Randhir Singh.Ace tennis duo of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi took over the torch from Singh, and their run was received with loud cheers.The tennis players, who have won laurels for the country in doubles games, then together lit the Olympic cauldron at the India Gate at the end of the nearly half-an-hour long relay.Dignitaries present included Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, IOA President Suresh Kalmadi, Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna, Sports Minister M S Gill and Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yan.
