Sun, Sep 5 06:06 AM
World No.3 women's singles badminton star badminton star Saina Nehwal, one of the ambassadors of the Commonwealth Games, raised concerns about the lack of preparedness, including the incomplete stadiums, with less than a month to go for the event. But shortly she decided to tone down her criticism.
"Looking at the stadiums and looking at the progress, I don't think we are capable of holding such big tournaments because you know, I have seen many Games like the Commonwealth in Melbourne (in 2006) and Olympics in Beijing (in 2008). Compared to that it is not up to the mark," Saina told reporters on the sidelines of a function at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad.
Given the bad publicity and the criticism the Games have received, Saina's statements would have sounded much more shriller than it actually was to the mandarins in the Organising Committee (OC), especially its under-fire chairman Suresh Kalmadi.
Saina, probably realising that her statements would only further tarnish the image of the Games, went into a fire-fighting mode.
"I said something and they made it something else. But I realise I shouldn't have put it this way as I am a brand ambassador. I guess, I have been hearing about all incomplete preparations, so I said this is not how it is at other places, which was a mistake. But I meant it might not be ready but it will get done in time. I have not been to Delhi, but I was happy with the badminton stadium when playing the Asian Badminton Championships. I said something without thinking much about how it would be interpreted," Saina told The Indian Express.
Saina, who won this year's Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, added that she was hoping to be at her best at the Games.
"I hope to do well again during the Commonwealth Games in October and want to win medals to make the people proud. Many people follow me and its not a good thing on my part (to criticise the Games) and as a player also it impacts. Now, I just want to focus on my Games. We still have four weeks before the Games and I am preparing to do well in Commonwealth Games. This time it is taking place in India and so I will be preparing harder. I have to win some medals," Saina said.
Meanwhile, chief national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand also said that organising a successful Games should not be a problem for India.
"Considering the capabilities of India, I don't think that its a problem to conduct the event. As far as the Indian shuttlers are concerned they are preparing well for the Games," Gopichand said.
Earlier, the Organising Committee refused to comment on the Saina's remark. "I have no comments to make," OC secretary general Lalit Bhanot said.
https://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20100905/1252/tsp-saina-slams-cwg-preparations-backtra.html
