Commonwealth Games a shame, says golfer Randhawa

Disappointed with the controversy-ridden build-up for this year's Commonwealth Games, Indian golfer Jyoti Randhawa on Friday said the shoddy preparation for the quadrennial sporting extravaganza is nothing short of a national "shame".

"I think, it's a shame. Our country is promising something to the world but not delivering the same. I am disappointed with the whole thing," Randhawa told a press conference in New Delhi.

"Sports and corruption can't go hand in hand. After watching this level [of corruption and mismanagement] I have no words to express my feelings," he added.

With just 44 days to go for the Delhi Games, construction work at the venues are yet to be over and problems like congested traffic and cleanliness have only added to the worries.

Besides, there are allegations of gross mismanagement by the high-rank officials of the Organising Committee, which is headed by Suresh Kalmadi.

Meanwhile, another professional golfer Anirban Lahiri said the management of events like the Commonwealth Games should be handled by the sportspersons only.

"Sportspersons should handle such events in place of politicians and all the allegations should be screened properly," Lahiri said.

Although Commonwealth Games Federation chief Mike Fennell has said he is happy with the overall preparations, the union government on Thursday formed a committee of senior bureaucrats to oversee the works at the Games venues.