Delhi Games have highest number of records

New Delhi: The Delhi Commonwealth Games have been marred by a slew of star pullouts and various other controversies, but has already registered the highest number of records and more are expected with five more days to go.

The Delhi edition already has seen 81 Games records lowered till Saturday, ahead of second highest 70 in 2002 in Manchester and nearly double that of the 41 marks set in 2006 in Melbourne.

In Manchester, records in weightlifting were counted separately for snatch, clean and jerk and total lift.

Out of the 81 Games records so far in this edition, a whopping 30 came from swimming while weightlifting contributed 12. Cycling and shooting have 11 Games records each while athletics contributed 10.

The 1998 edition in Kuala Lumpur had 27 Games records, while the 1994 edition had 45. The number of Games records was 26 in 1990, 19 in 1986, five in 1982, three each in 1978 and 1974 and six in 1970.

In earlier years the records tally stood at 35 in 1966, seven in 1962, four in 1958, two in 1954, four in 1950, one in 1938, eight in 1934 and three in 1930.

Out of the 81 records in the Delhi Games, 11 are in the name of Indians -- three in archery, six in shooting, one in para sport swimming and two in weightlifting.

Ausralians accointed for 24 records, the highest in number from one country, with their swimmers contributing 14.

English athletes have created 11 Games records while the Canadians have nine to their credit.

In archery, India's Deepika Kumari created a Games record in women's recurve individual event while men's and women's recurve teams have also set new records.

In shooting, Gagan Narang set a new Games record in men's 10m air rifle while Vijay Kumar also did the same in men's 25m rapid fire pistol event.

The men's teams of 10m air pistol (pairs), 10m air rifle (pairs) and 50m rifle 3 position (pairs) also created new Games records as did the women's pair in the 25m sport pistol.

In weightlifting, Renubala Devi set a new mark in women's 58kg with a total lift of 197kg while Ravi Kumar Katulu did the same in men's 69kg with a total lift of 321kg.

Among the record breakers in the Games is Prasanta Karmakar who got a bronze in men's 50m freestyle para sport S9.