Fennell can’t explain why CWG entries not made public

NEW DELHI - Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Michael Fennell Saturday was at a loss to explain why the final list of entries of athletes in most of the disciplines has still not been made public with the Commonwealth Games just eight days away.

Fennell said this could be done only after registraing all the athletes at the Delegation Registration Meeting (DRM), but could not explain how the badminton and squash draws have been done.

“We can come out with the entries only after the DRM is complete. It is a lengthy process. Each and every entry is checked and validated carefully and only after that we can make it public,” he said at a packed press conference at the swanky Games Main Press Centre here.

Fennell, however, denied that CGF has instructed the international federations not to disclose the list of entries.

The DRM began Sep 16 and in the eight days till Thursday, a mere 15 of the participating countries and territories have completed the process. This means that just seven days are left for the remaining 56 participating teams to complete the process latest by Oct 2.

More than 7,000 athletes and officials from 71 nations and terrotiries are competing in the Games.