The 33-year-old from Nottingham, who won the mixed doubles at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games alongside the now retired Gail Emms, will partner Jenny Wallwork in Delhi.

Robertson told insidethegames: "It is a huge honour.

"To carry the flag into the stadium will be a humbling experience.

"I only found out at 11pm last night when I was in bed and badminton team manager Andy Wood knocked on my door and told me the news.

"I was so delighted, particularly as the other athletes voted for the flag bearer which makes it even more of a privilege."

Robertson, a  seven-time Commonwealth medallist, picked up an Olympic silver alongside Emms back at the Athens 2004 Olympics and is one of Team England’s more experienced members having competed at the top level for the last 17 years.

Scotland has announced that track cyclist Ross Edgar will carry the team flag at the Opening Ceremony.

The 27-year-old took gold at the Melbourne 2006 Games where he competed in the team sprint riding with Chris Hoy and Craig MacLean.

He said: "It really is an honour to have been chosen to carry the Saltire and lead Team Scotland out for the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.

"This is my third Commonwealth Games and I won medals at both of the previous ones, so I would love to keep that record up.

"We have a great cycling team here in Delhi -the biggest Scotland has ever had at a Commonwealth Games, with a lot of exciting new talent coming through."

Hosts India have selected their golden boy Abhinav Bindra as their flag bearer.

Bindra, one of the nation’s most recognisable faces, is the current Olympic and world champion in the 10m air rifle event tipped to be one of the stars of the Games.

Ken Pereira, the 37-year-old field hockey player of Indian origin, will carry the flag for Canada while 22-year-old swimming star Cameron van der Burgh, South Africa’s first home-trained world record holder, has been announced as flag bearer for his team.

Northern Ireland’s flag bearer will be wrestler Mark Montgomery, who competed in judo in Manchester in 2002 and Melbourne in 2006.

The 36-year-old said: "The Commonwealth Games is the only multi-sport event which Northern Ireland can be represented in and to be selected for flag bearer is the biggest sporting honour that anyone could have.

"It will be crazy to walk out into the stadium, which is now sold out for the opening ceremony.

"There is a great atmosphere in Team Northern Ireland and to walk out in front of them will be the highlight of my sporting career so far.”

Meanwhile swimmer David Davies, the defending 1500 metres freestyle champion, is widely tipped to carry the Wales flag.

Davies has struggled for form this year but has recently relocated to Cardiff to rejoin former coach Dave Haller in an attempt to recapture the kind of form that saw him win an Olympic bronze medal at the Athens 2004 Games.

Australian Olympic pole vault champion Steve Hooker looks set to carry the flag for his team.

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