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Union Sports and Youth Affairs Minister MS Gill has expressed disappointment over a series of pullouts from international athletes for the Commonwealth Games. “The stadiums we have built are world class. It is sad that some of the leading sportspersons are not coming to Delhi Commonwealth Games,” Gill said. “It appears that for the Olympic Games, performance in continental events like Asian Games, and Europeans Championships are taken into account. Due to this, the sportspersons don’t attach the same importance to the Commonwealth Games,” he added. Gill also said that he would ask Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief Michael Fennell to bring those players to Games. “I want to tell Fennell that don’t bring your officials here, but bring stars like Bolt, Fraser, Hoy and others with you,” Gill said. He further said that he would discuss the matter in the meeting of Commonwealth Sports Ministers in the national capital on October 4. The top athletes who have pulled out of the mega-event include Jamaican sprinters Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, Australian tennis player Lleyton Hewitt, British tennis ace Andy Murray, and British cyclist Chris Hoy. The 12-day sporting extravaganza will be India ’s biggest sporting event since the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.

Gill disappointed over top athletes skipping Commonwealth Games