Athletes focus on practice ahead of Commonwealth Games

New Delhi: Athletes got down to training on Wednesday for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, putting aside concerns about poor accommodation and a dengue fever epidemic that have embarrassed the hosts.

Hundreds of athletes from around the world poured into the Indian capital, host for the October 3-14 multi-sports event. Competitions kick off on October 4.

Teams from the 71 nations that are members of the Commonwealth are all due to be in place at the Games Village by Thursday, the Commonwealth Games Federation said in a statement.

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The Indian authorities, criticised for providing filthy accommodation and shoddy construction of some of the venue sites, are working around the clock to clean up the Games Village to house up to 8,000 athletes and officials.

Security has been ramped up with some 100,000 police, including sniper units, guarding the Games, in one of the biggest ever security crackdowns on the capital.

Mobile surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft guns deployed have been deployed, the Indian Express said.

MiG fighters and armed helicopters will be on standby and Mi-35 attack helicopters will be airborne during opening and closing ceremonies.

Indian states are also on high alert on the eve of a ruling over whether Hindus or Muslims own land around the Babri mosque in northern India, a controversy that led to the deaths of some 2,000 people in 1992.

Caster Semenya, the women's 800 metres world champion, has withdrawn from the Games because of a back injury, dealing the event another blow, South Africa's Olympic body said.

The 19-year-old, cleared to compete in July after gender tests had put her career on hold since she won the world title in August 2009, has suffered serious lower back pain and has been uncomfortable in her last few races.

Teams were practicing in the sprawling Games Village, which, despite being criticised for the lack of cleanliness in some apartments, has extensive training facilities.

"In the same Games Village complex you have practice facilities for aquatics, wrestling, weightlifting and athletics. You don't have too many Games where you saw something like this," Games Village mayor Dalbir Singh told Reuters.

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Other high-profile athletes missing from the Games include world champion sprinter Usain Bolt, who said the event had come too late in the year, and Kenyan 800 metres world record holder David Rudisha, who blamed fatigue for his withdrawal.

Other athletes have pulled out citing health concerns surrounding dirty accommodation in the village while some have withdrawn because of fears over security.

In a boost for the Games, Isle of Man cyclist Mark Cavendish, a Tour de France stage winner and one of the world's best sprinters, said he would compete in the road race.