'Indian athletes have home advantage in CWG'

Dismissing suggestions that Indian athletes will lose out on home advantage due to construction delays, India's CWG Chef de Mission Bhubaneswar Kalita today said familiarity with the conditions still gives them an edge.

Dismissing suggestions that Indian athletes will lose out on home advantage due to construction delays, India's CWG Chef de Mission Bhubaneswar Kalita on Wednesday said familiarity with the conditions still gives them an edge.

HT Image

All the venues have been inaugurated but the overlays work is yet to complete.

Rain gods have only added to woes of the organisers with the capital experiencing a prolonged monsoon session, pushing the deadlines further.

However, Kalita is full of optimism as the Games draw closer.

"They are training here in India itself, if not at the same stadium where the competition is going to take place. They have been around the venues and they are familiar with the conditions and environment as well as the climate here. So, they would definitely have an edge over their opponents," Kalita said.

"Players have been training very hard for almost three years now. There have been a numerous trial games where they have done very well. I am sure that we would win a lot of medals this time around at the CWG," Kalita, also an IOA vice-president, said.

The players from around the world would start pouring into the Capital from September 18 but fears are growing that dengue may play a spoilsport.

Kalita too is worried on this but said necessary arrangements are being put in place to deal with the disease.

"In 14 days the Health Ministry has assured of clearing everything to minimise the spread of the diseases."

Speaking on the recent spate of positive drug tests that have hit the Indian players, Kalita claimed all the federations were informed about the banned substances.

"All I can say is that the federations were given full information on the list of banned substances. I don't know why players are pleading ignorance about the subject. But if they are found guilty they would be severely punished."

Several of India's CWG squad members including wrestlers, swimmers and a shot-putter have tested positive for WADA-banned methylhexaneamine in the last few days.