Sparse crowds as Australia dominate Games

---

SM Aminur Rahman, CEO and Managing Director of Janata Bank Limited, handing over a cheque for Tk 0.1 million to Sitesh Ranjan Deb, Founder of Bonno Prani Seba Foundation at a city hotel recently. Bangladesh Bank Govorner Dr Atiur Rahman also seen.

NEW DELHI, Oct 4 (AFP): The Commonwealth Games got underway on Monday with Australia dominating the first day of action, but sparse crowds caused another headache for under-pressure organisers.
As the focus switched to sport after a nightmarish run-up damaged India's reputation, the Aussies clinched four gold medals, including the men's team gymnastics title ahead of England and Canada.
In the pool, they added three more with Kylie Palmer powering her way to victory in the 200m freestyle, Alicia Coutts taking the 200m individual medley crown and their men edging England in the 4x100m freestyle relay.
Canada's Ryan Cochrane grabbed gold in the men's 400m freestyle and South Africa's Chad Le Clos won the men's 200m butterfly.
The first gold of the Games belonged to Nigeria's Augustina Nwaokolo, who stunned India's Soniya Chanu to win the women's weightlifting 48kg title.
Nwaokolo,17, set a new Commonwealth record of 175kg after a snatch lift of 77kg and clean and jerk attempt of 98kg, with Chanu taking silver ahead of compatriot Sandhya Rani.
"I'm the happiest person in the world, I'm very proud," said the teenager. "My next step is the Olympics, to win gold."
While sport took a front seat after a shambolic build-up, the Games' problems refused to go away with glaringly empty stadiums at the swimming heats, netball, tennis and hockey.
About two million tickets were made available for the multi-sport Games, but rumours have long circulated in the capital that the response has been lacklustre amid delays in finalising the sales network.
There was also farcical scenes at the official boxing weigh-in, which was abandoned after faulty scales showed most of the fighters were too heavy.
Irate coaches demanded the scales be checked after some boxers tried to sweat off weight by using saunas or going for runs only to return and weigh more than before.