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Rediff.com  » Sports » Aus champion swimmer unsure over Delhi CWG participation

Aus champion swimmer unsure over Delhi CWG participation

Source: PTI
September 20, 2010 14:15 IST
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Australia's world record champion swimmer Christian Sprenger is having second thoughts about travelling to New Delhi for the Commonwealth Games in the wake of an adverse risk assessment report.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs in its latest advisory said there is a high risk of a terrorist attack during the Games next month.

Sprenger, who holds the 200m world record, said he is a worried person now.

"I do really want to compete, but am I worried? Of course I am. I don't want to be reading things like that in the paper. How could I not be having second thoughts?" Sprenger was quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph.

Sprenger's mother, Sharon, said she was worried about her son's safety.

"It only takes one person on the side of the road with a bomb strapped to the side of his body, and boom," she said.

Christian SprengerAustralia's other top swimmers such as Olympic champions Jessicah Schippers and Leisel Jones have also told their families to not travel to India for the Games.

"I said to them, even before the latest threat came up, that I didn't want them to come. We go over there and we're really well looked after with our security and everything, but they go over and they just have to wing it and see what happens," Schipper said.

Jones said she refused to risk her mother Rosemary's life. Karen Seebohm - mother of 18-year-old multi-event specialist star Emily - has also decided against taking her 10-year-old son Will to India.

However, there is one family that is not scared to travel to India.

Kay Kukla - mother of the team's youngest competitor, Yolane, 14 - said she was happy to attend the Games, saying the family had already survived a number of attacks in strife-torn Manila.

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