Two Indian athletes – Sachin Roby and Sachin Choudhary – will miss the XX Commonwealth Games owing to fitness and personal reasons respectively, Chef de Mission Raj Singh has confirmed.
Jaundice strikes for Roby
Sprinter Roby was down with jaundice and will not be participating in the 4X400 relay event.
"Roby was admitted to a local hospital here and he was diagnosed with jaundice. He was admitted to the hospital for four days. I have asked the team doctors if he can be sent back home in this condition. If the doctors say yes, then he will be sent home. Otherwise he will have to keep him here," Raj Singh informed the media.
"Roby spent three-four days at the hospital due to jaundice and it has been three days since he has been discharged. He cannot take part in the Commonwealth Games as he will need at least one month (to recover). He is recovering and once the team doctor says he can travel, he will be sent back home," Indian athletics team coach Bahadur Singh told PTI.
It is also learnt that Roby will be off to India once the team doctor clears him.
On being an athlete short for the event, Bahadur said: "We came with six 4x400m relay runners. Now, we still have five members out of which four will run. There is no need for replacement,” he said.
There’s still hope of a return from Choudhary
Para powerlifter Choudhary, on the other hand, wished to be by the side of his father, who is in serious medical condition, and has left Scotland for India.
It appears that there is still hope for India for a podium finish in Choudhary’s case though, with para-sports manager Shankar Iyer having been quoted as saying: "Sachin Choudhary is a medal prospect. He told me before leaving Glasgow that he will return for the competition if his father's condition improves.”
Choudhary might return for his event scheduled on August 2.
The opening ceremony of the XX Commonwealth Games is scheduled for Wednesday.