Another Australian withdrawals from Commonwealth Games
Australia has seen another athlete drop out of next month’s Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Tamsyn Lewis, the 2008 800m world indoor champion, has backed out because of a knee injury.
Australia has already seen world discus champion, Dani Samuels, withdrawal because of concerns for her health and safety after a number of unsettling events in Delhi.
Lewis was aware of the issues Delhi is facing, but was still positive that Delhi would be able to pull it together.
“Fingers crossed New Delhi gets their act together and put on a spectacular Games,” said Lewis.
Although Lewis recently won gold in the 800m, she has had most of her success in the 4x400m relay. She has been a part of Australia’s 4x400m relay team in the last four Commonwealth Games, and has helped
the team win gold in the last three. She was only 15 years old when she attended her first Commonwealth Games in 1994, but did not actually compete.
The latest major concern is over the athlete’s village. Early visitors to the site have claimed that the village is unprepared for the visiting athletes with unfinished electrical work in some rooms, and
debris piled up in others.
Earlier this week, a bridge that was meant to be used by athletes and spectators to enter one of the main venues collapsed, injuring over 25 people. Before that there was an outbreak of dengue fever, and
last Sunday two tourists were shot near one of Delhi’s most popular tourist attractions.
“It's not about security and hygiene, but my times are about two seconds slower than my best and I want the best for the relay team and I would hamper our prospects,” she said.
Many athletes have dropped out of the Games, but most have done so because of injury, or to rest after a long season.
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