India's C'wealth Games gold medal stolen in Australia

A gold medal won by the Indian men's table tennis team at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne has been stolen during a break-in at the home of a team member here.

The medal was stolen from team member Shibaji Datta's residence in Moonee Ponds on January 12, police said.

Datta said winning the gold was a great achievement not just for himself but also his teammates.

"I spoke to my teammates in India and they are very disappointed," he said. Born in Kolkata, Datta had been playing table tennis since he was eight years-old and is a coach at Melbourne's Health, Wellness & Table Tennis.

"All I can say to the offender is that at the time they probably didn't realise and just took because it as a gold thing," he said adding "if I could get it back, it would be good."

"There is no financial worth attached it in the market. It's just sentimental value for me and my teammates as well."

According to local police, jewellery, watches and other electronic goods were also taken.
Detective Acting Daniel Jacuta said he could not understand why anyone would steal a medal of sentimental, but not monetary, value.

"The bloke it belongs to trained long and hard to compete and win the medal and for it to be stolen is devastating for him" Jacuta said.