Evans barred from Games
GLASGOW, July 23, (Agencies): Olympic silver medallist Fred Evans has been denied the chance to compete in the Commonwealth Games after his accreditation was refused.
The Welsh welterweight has been told he will not be allowed to compete in Glasgow following checks by the Home Office Commonwealth Games officials.
Wales team chief Brian Davis said in a statement on Tuesday: “Team Wales can confirm that boxer Fred Evans has had his accreditation refused by Glasgow 2014 based on checks completed by the Home Office and the Commonwealth Games accreditation decision board.
The 2014 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Glasgow on Wednesday will include a tribute to victims of the Malaysia Airlines MH17 flight disaster, organisers said.
Prince Imran from Malaysia, president of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said all the victims, many of whom were from Malaysia and other Commonwealth countries, would be recognised.
Star Springbok winger Bryan Habana has been put on standby for the South African team for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Habana’s availability followed a decision by his club Toulon, in agreement with the French Rugby Federation (FFR), to make an exception and allow Habana to play during a rest window during which all French Top 14 players are normally prohibited from playing, the South African federation annouced Tuesday.
Olympic champion Sally Pearson of Australia says she’s a doubtful starter for the 100 meters at the Commonwealth Games due to hamstring problems, though she still hopes to compete in her specialty 100-meter hurdles event.
The 100 is scheduled for Monday while the hurdles final will be on Aug. 2, the second-tolast day of the games.
Pearson says at a news conference on Wednesday, “the latest I can pull out is 48 hours, and right now it is more likely I am going to. I’ve had a few discussions with my coach and we’re really at the stage where I can’t do two events.”
Malaysia’s government has launched an appeal to Commonwealth Games organisers to have rifle shooter Nur Ayuni Farhana Abdul Halim reinstated in the competition after she was withdrawn because her jacket was lost en route to Scotland.
Ayuni, who won the Commonwealth Games gold medal with Nur Suryani Taibi in the 10 metre air rifle pairs in New Delhi four years ago, was left devastated by her team’s decision after the garment failed to turn up in time for Monday’s registration.
Malaysia team manager Musa Omar said a borrowed jacket did not fit, while Ayuni said a new one would take two months to get used to so he was forced to instead register Muslifah Zulkifli in the 10m air rifle and Suryani in the 50m prone.
India’s Venkata Pusarla Sindhu has to contend not only with the hopes of her nation but the pressure of impressing her most famous fan in the Commonwealth Games badminton competition.
The 19-year-old knows that her country’s most well-known sportsman, cricket great Sachin Tendulkar, will be taking a keen interest when she competes in the women’s singles in Glasgow starting on Tuesday.