Big pullouts a setback for India

India's sports minister on Saturday expressed regret over a series of pullouts from this year's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, a day after British cyclist Chris Hoy announced his withdrawal.
"The world knows that India has spent lavishly for organising the Commonwealth Games," Manohar Singh Gill told Reuters.
"The stadiums we built match the best in the world and far in excess of the requirement. It is therefore sad that some of the leading sportspersons are not coming to India."
Quadruple Olympic gold medallist Hoy pulled out of the October 3-14 games because of a clash with the European championships, which carry qualification points for the 2012 London Olympics.