The IOA have decided to allow women to wear trousers and a blazer at the Opening Ceremony of the upcoming Commonwealth Games in the Australian city.

India's female athletes have usually worn a sari with a blazer on top at previous Opening Ceremonies.

However, this has changed for Gold Coast 2018 with the IOA deciding to maintain a uniform dress code for the entire Indian athlete contingent, meaning female athletes will wear a blazer and trousers like their male counterparts.

The decision has been taken as the IOA believe that it is inconvenient for female athletes to remain in the sari for the entirety of the Opening Ceremony.

Additionally, it is believed that female athletes were not keen on continuing to wear the sari.

However, according to Mail Today, Sakshi Malik, an Olympic medal-winning wrestler, would prefer to wear the sari.

"We always feel happy and proud when we wear a sari during the Opening Ceremonies," she said.

On the other hand, Women's hockey captain Rani Rampal said she is satisfied with the change.

"It's very nice," she said.

"Time to time there should be changes.

"Girls always used to wear a sari at the Games but this time it will be different and I love it."

The attire of Indian athletes has caused minor controversy at past Opening Ceremonies, with badminton player Jwala Gutta carrying her blazer in her hand at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

This replicated the behaviour of tennis player Sanja Mirza and several other athletes at London 2012.

Mirza's fellow tennis player Sunitha Rao wore a tracksuit at the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

India are set to send 225 athletes across 15 sports to Gold Coast 2018, which takes place from April 4 to 15.