Swimmer Balakrishnan injured in attack, doubtful for CWG

The incident also put a question mark on the promising swimmer's participation in the October 3-14 quadrennial sporting extravaganza to be held in the national capital. The 21-year-old, a backstroke specialist, was on his way to the swimming pool for a morning practice session when he was intercepted by four unidentified men who attacked him with logs and sharp objects, police said.

The assailants fled when the local people started rushing to the spot. A severely wounded Balakrishnan was then rushed to a private hospital, police said. A gold medallist in the 11th South Asian Games in Dhaka earlier this year, Balakrishnan is a student of the Guindy Engineering College of the Anna University here.

He had also bettered 50m and 100m backstroke records in the 64th Senior National Aquatic Championship held in Jaipur last month. A case has been registered and police has initiated investigation.

Balakrishnan's coach Chandrasekar rued that the swimmer might not be able to participate in the Commonwealth Games since only 28 days are left for the event. "It's unfortunate this kind of an incident has happened. I don't know when he can start practicing again. We do not know what the doctors would say.

"Since just 28 days are left for the Commonwealth Games to begin, it is doubtful whether he will be able recover and join the team in time," Chandrasekar said.