Published>Mon, Oct 11 10 08:37 AM
Wild monkeys and stray dogs got front row seats but a massive security operation kept most other spectators away as Australia snatched another two Commonwealth Games cycling gold medals on the streets of Delhi on Sunday.
Delhiites were out in force later in the day, though, when a packed house roared the hosts on to a 7-4 hockey victory against Pakistan, dispelling any doubts about the city's passion for sport after days of empty venues at the $6 billion event.
India has mobilised more than 100,000 personnel to ensure the safety of the Games for 71 mostly former British colonies, which they intended to use as a display of soft power to complement their growing economic might.
The embarrassing setbacks that scarred the run-up to the Games and the gremlims that have dogged the event since the opening ceremony have only served to reinforce a determination that there should be no security breaches.
"We continue to monitor security and one of the more important aspects of security is that there is no let up," Games Federation President Michael Fennell said.
"We have had a number of complaints about overzealousness of security personnel and other issues relating to security. We have maintained our discussions to ensure the very rigid security measures continue right through the rest of the Games.
"We cannot ease up until we complete the journey."
Even though the sparse crowds at the Games has also been a contentious issue at the Games, central Delhi was shut down on Sunday as cyclists swept along the picturesque avenues and usually teeming circuses of Lutyens' city.
Keeping Delhi's wildlife away from the 13.7km circuit proved more difficult, however, despite the troop of grey langur monkeys hired by the city to deter smaller, more common simians.
"Apart from the wild monkeys and dogs, there was nothing too challenging," said Rochelle Gilmour after winning the women's 112-km race in a sprint finish. "We were told there would be no wild animals but there were."
Allan Davis later triumphed in an attritional 168-km men's race to help boost Australia's gold tally to 61 at the end of day eight, 32 ahead of hosts India (29) who moved ahead of England (26) in the race for second in the medal table.
Top British rider Mark Cavendish, racing for the Isle of Man, faded late on and finished seventh but had no complaints about his amateur team mates.
"We didn't have a team as strong as the Australians," said the Manx. "In our team we had an electrician and a man from the water board."
Security, a key concern after the 2008 militant attack on Mumbai which killed more than 160 people, was also beefed up around the Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium in the run-up to India's must-win clash against Pakistan.
If cricket is a religion in India then hockey is a major cult and the cheers of the 19,000 crowd could be heard in the Delhi night long after the final whistle had secured their team a place a semi-final against England.
Australian shooter Michelangelo Giustinian had a miserable day, however, after emptying five rounds into a rival's target during the 25m centrefire pistol and blowing his chance of a medal.
"I don't recall this ever happening," the 57-year-old twice Games champion said. "It's crazy. I'll get my head around it eventually."
In the athletics, Kenya's Kiplagats swept the podium with some ease in the 800m at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, Boaz Kiplagat Lalang leading the way in 1:46.60 ahead of Richard Kiplagat and Abraham Kiplagat.
"It was not so difficult, we were likely to win the medals," said Lalang, whose compatriot David Rudisha is the world record holder in the event but skipped the Games along with several other leading athletes.
The women's 200m final was postponed until Monday pending an appeal by Cypriot favourite Elena Artymata over her disqualification for moving out of her lane in the semi-finals.
Athletics will take centre stage on the ninth day of the Games with Australia's Olympic champion Steve Hooker expected to win the pole vault and India hoping for a first track gold in 62 years through 800m runner Tintu Luka.
The 19th Commonwealth Games close on Oct. 14.
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