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CWG 2022: Sri Lankan athletes asked to turn in passports as three members go missing
- A wrestler, a judoka, and a judo coach from Sri Lanka have disappeared from one of the Commonwealth Games villages
- Birmingham police are investigating the absence of the three members
- Sri Lanka picked a 161-strong contingent for the 2022 Games
The Sri Lankan contingent at the Commonwealth Games has asked its athletes to turn in their passports after three members went missing.
Sri Lanka, which is experiencing a major economic crisis, on late Wednesday confirmed that a wrestler, a judoka, and a judo coach have disappeared from one of the Commonwealth Games villages housing athletes and officials.
Also read: Commonwealth Games 2022: Two members from Sri Lankan camp reported missing
Speaking to The Telegraph in India, Sri Lankan team spokesperson Gobinath Sivarajah said that Birmingham police are investigating the absence of the three members.
“We have asked all athletes and officials to submit their passports to our respective venue officials in all the villages after the incident,” he said. “The police are investigating and the three cannot cross the UK borders. What has happened is really unfortunate.”
Also read: India does not have problems like Sri Lanka, Pakistan: Raghuram Rajan
During the 2018 Games on Australia’s Gold Coast, almost one-third of the Cameroon team went missing after the event. Rwanda’s weightlifting coach also fled during a toilet break at the host stadium.
It was reported at least 230 athletes and officials lodged applications for protection visas in Australia after the event, but the majority were denied.
Also read: CWG 2022: Rosemary Lenton, 72, bags gold, becomes Scotland’s oldest medallist
Sri Lanka, which picked a 161-strong contingent for the 2022 Games, had a silver and two bronze medals — including Yupun Abeykoon’s third place finish in the men’s 100-metre final on Wednesday — after six days of competition.
It is reportedly said that the Sri Lankan athletes endured extremely tough times in the build-up to the Commonwealth Games as the country is grappling with a massive debt crisis apart from acute food and fuel shortage.
Also read: Commonwealth Games 2022: India ends Day 6 with 4 bronze, and 1 silver
Members of the basketball team were forced to walk about 20kms to reach their training centres in the past three months due to fuel shortage.
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