The 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi have already provided plenty of major talking points. Not many of them positive ones. Think concerns about security in the wake of the Mumbai bombings. The tardiness of venue construction. Worries about the extreme heat. And so on.

All of which are valid issues, although Australian Commonwealth Games Association (ACGA) boss Perry Crosswhite is encouraged by the progress that’s been made on his most recent visits to the Indian capital.

Crosswhite, who also sits on the Delhi 2010 Coordination Commission, is heartened that several experts with experience at previous major Games have been employed by local organisers.

“It’s also pleasing to see that the Indian government has become more involved,” he said.

“They fully understand that the Games need to be a success for their country, their people and their standing on the international stage.

“They’ve got the message that these Games need to be done in a certain way and they’ve got to be done in a way so that everyone is proud of them.

“I’m much more confident than I was 12 months ago that it’s all going to happen and it will be a really good Games.”

That feeling was broadly echoed by the Coordination Commission during its December evaluation, although treasurer Austin Sealy did sound a note of caution regarding venue construction with many completion dates pushed back by three months to mid-2010.

“We urge the construction agencies to ensure that no further delays are encountered as this will place the organising committee in a difficult position and compromise final preparations and Games readiness,” said Sealy.

With all the off-field worries, it’s understandable that until now there has not been nearly as much focus on what will happen where it really matters – inside the venues.

Australia has dominated its Commonwealth rivals at every Games since 1990 in Auckland.

The ACGA’s aim is to match the record haul of 221 medals (including 84 golds) from four years ago in Melbourne.

That target has been made harder with Australian specialties such as triathlon and basketball dropped from the program, in place of sports such as Greco-Roman wrestling and archery.

A cashed-up England squad is building towards the 2012 London Olympics, while India will enjoy the traditional advantages that come with being the host nation.

So how is Australia shaping up, nine months out from the October 3-14 Games?

ATHLETICS
To the surprise of many, athletics was the big hometown success story in Melbourne four years ago. The late Kerryn McCann’s remarkable last-gasp victory in the women’s marathon set the tone as the Australian team raked in 41 medals, including 16 golds. And there’s a fair chance there could be a repeat performance in Delhi. Reigning Olympic and world pole vault gold medallist Steve Hooker deserves to be just about the shortest-priced favourite of the whole Games. Ditto discus world champion Dani Samuels. And dual Olympic medallist Jared Tallent in the men’s 20km walk. Jana Pittman has had plenty of injury setbacks in recent years, but she has a knack of being fit in Commonwealth Games years and is the two-time defending 400m hurdles champion. Due to the presence of the Caribbean nations (sprints) and African powerhouses such as Kenya (distance running), the standard is much hotter on the track than in the field events.

SWIMMING
The retirement of triple Olympic champion Libby Trickett is a blow to the Dolphins at the end of a year when Australia endured their worst world championships since the early 1990s. The comebacks are headed by Olympic champion Leisel Jones (personal leave), fellow Beijing gold medallist Kylie Palmer (injury), silver medallist Eamon Sullivan (illness) and bronze medallist Hayden Stoeckel (injury) who all missed the debacle of 2009. Even without Trickett, the women’s team can boast world champions like Jess Schipper and Marieke Guehrer and triple Olympic champion Stephanie Rice. For the men’s team it’s all about redemption after they embarrassingly failed to win a single individual gold medal in Melbourne. Along with Sullivan, hopes are high for 100m breaststrokers Brenton Rickard and Christian Sprenger and Olympic 100m butterfly bronze medallist Andrew Lauterstein. And the ultimate redemption would be if disgraced butterflyer Nick D’Arcy makes his first national team after twice being banned for his assault on former swimmer Simon Cowley after the Beijing Olympic trials.

CYCLING
With the road world championships taking place in Melbourne just before the Games, it’s unlikely that superstars Cadel Evans and Michael Rogers will be doubling up in Delhi. But young guns Jack Bobridge, Leigh Howard and Cameron and Travis Meyer are expected to miss the road worlds in favour of competing in the track endurance events in India. Australia plan on sending their best possible track team to India, with star sprinters Anna Meares and Shane Perkins likely to be two of the main medal chances.

GYMNASTICS
The Australian team are flying high on the back of their best-ever medals haul at a world championships in London in October – silver medals to Lauren Mitchell in the women’s beam and floor and bronze to Prashanth Sellathurai in the men’s pommel horse. Beth Tweddle narrowly outscored Mitchell to win the floor title, but there are question marks over whether England will send a full-strength team to Delhi. Gymnastics Australia is committed to sending its strongest artistic squad to the Commonwealth Games and the world championships in Rotterdam in late October. Australia should also start as favourites for gold in the rhythmic individual and team events due to the efforts of Naazmi Johnston.

OTHER SPORTS
Although most of the changes to the program have been made to assist the host nation, the inclusion of tennis is a real boon for Australia. All of the leading women including Samantha Stosur, Jelena Dokic and Alicia Molik have the Games inked into their schedules. And even though Australia refused to play a Davis Cup tie in India earlier this year because of security concerns, the men will also field a strong squad. The biggest coup would be if Lleyton Hewitt – whose love of donning the green and gold knows no bounds – could be persuaded to join the team. Shooting, hockey, lawn bowls, netball, diving and squash are other sports where Advance Australia Fair should be a familiar tune at the medal ceremonies.

© AAP 2012

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