Australia and India shine at Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games organisers defended the Delhi showpiece and insisted on Tuesday that empty stadiums would fill up as Australia and India took a stranglehold on the medals table.

Glitches continue to haunt the event for nations and territories of the former British Empire, with row after row of empty seats a major concern.

Embattled organising committee chief Suresh Kalmadi blamed the lack of spectators on ticket booths not being set up outside stadiums, and said the blunder had been fixed.

"We have set up in every stadium now ticket box offices," said Kalmadi, who was booed at the opening ceremony after a shambolic lead-up to the Games.

"There were problems, some of the ticket stalls were not put up, but all the stalls are up now at all the stadiums. The situation has been rectified."

Commonwealth Games Federation boss Michael Fennell said problems were inevitable.
 

"During the course of any Games, even if you have perfect organisation, there are issues," he said, denying organisers were attempting to gloss over Delhi's drawbacks.

"No-one is sweeping anything under the carpet. We are dealing with the issues now."

The heavily fortified Games have been dogged by worries over threats of terror attacks, corruption, construction delays, and outbreaks of dengue fever.

Australia, meanwhile, continued to dominate, adding another five gold medals to the four it won on Monday.

They swept the board on the opening day of cycling at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, taking three gold and breaking three Games records.

Anna Meares defended her 500m time trial title, before Scott Sunderland clinched the 1000m and Jack Bobridge made it three in the 4000m individual pursuit.

It completed an astonishing comeback for Meares, who broke her neck in a cycling accident at the World Cup in January 2008.

"It taught me a lot about life and who I am," the three-time world champion said. "I'm now more patient and appreciate things more. I know I'm lucky to travel the world and ride a bike for a living."

Meares shaved more than half a second off her own best to cross the line in 33.758sec, beating compatriot Kaarle McCulloch with Becky James of Wales claiming bronze.

More successs came in the pool where Leiston Pickett won the women's 50m breastroke.

Other swimming gold went to England's Fran Halsall in the women's 50m butterfly, compatriot Liam Tancock in the men's 50m backstroke and Scotland's Robbie Renwick who upset the odds to take the 200m freestyle title.

Australia completed a stellar day by winning the gymnastics women's team gold, with England second and Canada third.

Indians were also celebrating after matching Australia's five gold medal haul with Abhinav Bindra and Gagan Narang opening their account by winning the men's 10m air rifle pairs.

"There were tremendous expectations, huge pressure. It was not easy for me for sure," said Bindra, the Beijing Olympics gold medalist.

Their success was quickly followed by Anisa Syyed and Rahi Sarnobat overcoming a strong challenge from Australia to win the women's 25m Pistol Pairs.

The hosts then completed a clean sweep on the first day of the Greco Roman wrestling contest, with Anil Kumar (96kg), Sanjay (74kg), and Ravinder Singh (60kg) all proving too good for the rest of the field.

Elsewhere, Singapore bagged its first medal with Swee Hon Lim and Bin Gai clinching the men's 50m Pistol Pair title.

The city-state added another when Aqilah Sudhir and Xiang Wei Xiang Ser took the women's 50m rifle three positions title.

Near neighbour Malaysia also enjoyed success with gold to weightlifter Aricco Jumitih in the 62kg category while Canada's Marilou Dozois-Prevost took out the 53kg title.

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