The crisis-hit Commonwealth Games has got support from an unexpected quarter in Australia's hockey coach Ric Charlesworth, who said controversies are not new in multisport events but exuded confidence that Delhi would deliver the goods.
The Delhi Games organisers have come under severe criticism from all quarters because of it's shoddy preparation, which includes a "filthy and unhygienic" Athletes Village, outbreak of dengue fever and security issues among others.
But Charlesworth, who had a nine-month tumultuous stint here in 2008 as India's hockey consultant, said his wards have no issues traveling to Delhi for the Games, but will definitely adopt a cautious approach during their stay here.
"There are always issues with such large events...But I'm confident India will get it done," the 58-year-old Australian hockey legend told PTI ahead of his team's departure for Delhi on Wednesday.
"We will be vigilant about mosquitoes in Delhi...The players are relaxed," added Charlesworth.
Charlesworth, who has always been a vocal critic of the Indian system, however, said that he was not surprised at the unpreparedness of the Delhi Games' organisers.
"But we planned to arrive late (for the Games)," he said. Incidentally, earlier this month Charlesworth had said that he was nervous about what he may find when he lands in Delhi for the Games.
"Who knows what the accommodation will be like when we head over there. I'm very worried about it. Does the air conditioning work? Do the lifts work? Is there flyscreens on the windows? There is dengue fever in India," he had said.
But the Australian coach said, inspite of the negative reports, at no point of time, his players were apprehensive about traveling to India for the mega-event, starting Sunday.
Asked if the Kokkaburras have any security concern after many star athletes pulled out of the event due to safety issues, Charlesworth said, "No, we don't have any problems with security. It is an issue in any world level multi-sport event."
Australia has been a dominant force in hockey in the Commonwealth Games as they lost only one match and claimed gold medal in every edition since the sport's introduction in the quadrennial event in 1998.
The Kookaburras will go into the tournament as favourites after an unbeaten 12-month run during which they won the World Cup earlier this year in New Delhi and the Champions Trophy in Germany. They had also won last December's Champions Trophy in Melbourne. But Charlesworth said apart from a poor competition schedule, inexperienced match officials and absence of technology might pose serious problems for them in their title defence.
"I'm worried that the umpires are inexperienced...There will be no video referral and the programme and the heat will make it tougher," he said. Terming hosts India and Pakistan as a major threat in their quest to maintain supremacy, Charlesworth said his side's World Cup triumph at the Major Dhyan Chand National stadium here will hold them in good stead in the upcoming sporting extravaganza.
"India and Pakistan will be the most difficult sides in the competition. But I hope the World Cup experience will help us cope up with any situation," he said.
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