In a major embarrassment for the Commonwealth Games organisers, its brand ambassador and ace shuttler Saina Nehwal on Saturday questioned India's capability of holding such a mega-event and said the preparations were "not upto the mark".
In a caustic remark, Saina said that she really doubts whether Delhi was capable of holding the mega-event and she was sure it would not match the Melbourne Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games in Beijing.
"Looking at the stadiums and looking at the progress, I don't really think we are capable of holding such big tournaments because you know, I have seen many Games like the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne (in 2006) and Olympic Games in Beijing (in 2008). Compared to that its not up to the mark," Saina told reporters on the sidelines of a function at Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy here.
Saina, who won this year's Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award hoped that everything would be ready before the Games' opening ceremony on October 3.
"But I am sure that before 3rd or 2nd of October it will be ready and people will like it. But with the comparison of these Games seems not up to the mark," said Saina, who was knocked out in the quarterfinals of the World Badminton Championships in Paris recently.
Saina’s comments came as a surprise as she is one of the six sportspersons who have been chosen as the Games' brand ambassadors.
The Commonwealth Games has been hit by a series of corruption allegations, construction delays and star pull outs leading to a negative publicity for the October 3-14 event.
CWG Organising Committee secretary general Lalit Bhanot refused to comment on Saina's remarks saying, "I have no comments to make." Saina also said that she is leaving no stone unturned to clinch medals in the Delhi Games.
"I am focusing on my game, lets see what happens finally. We still have four weeks before the Games and I am preparing to do well in Commonwealth Games," Saina said.
"This time it is taking place in India and so I will be preparing harder. I have to win some medals," she added. Asked about her performance in the World Championships, she said "I could have reached semifinals of the tournament. I was disappointed, but next time I will try to do better."
Saina had crashed out of the World Championships losing 8-21, 14-21 to Chinese Shixian Wang in the quarterfinals.