Top Aussie vaulter's poles stuck at sea

The world champion, who won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics for his 5.96 metre vault, is worried simply because his poles are stuck at sea, literally.

Hooker’s poles are in a container that is awaiting customs clearance at Mumbai port over the past 10 days. The stranded freight includes sporting equipment of other members of the Oz CWG teams as well as medical supplies and furniture and other items required for the office the Australian Commonwealth Games Association would set up in the CWG Village here.

After the ACGA requested the Indian High Commission in Canberra to look into the matter, the Ministry of External Affairs is understood to have got in touch with the Ministry of Shipping and Ministry of Finance to expedite the process of offloading the cargo from the vessel and getting the custom clearance for the container.

The ACGA chief Perry Crosswhite informed Sujatha Singh, Indian High Commissioner in Canberra, that the cargo had been sent from Australia to Mumbai nearly five weeks back. Though the vessel reached Mumbai port, the cargo could not be offloaded and given custom-clearance due to the long queue.

The ACGA wanted the equipment, medical supplies and furniture to reach the CWG Village in Delhi by Saturday. But the freight forwarders contacted the ACGA and informed that the cargo was stranded at Mumbai port for the last 10 days. The MEA got in action after receiving a missive from Singh.

Sources said all efforts were being made to make sure that the ACGA’s freight was cleared as soon as possible. Australia is expected to send a big team for the CWG 2010 and is likely to participate in most events. The medal tally of the Down Under rose from 162 in Auckland in 1990 to 221 in Melbourne in 2006. And the ACGA is hoping to make it even better in Delhi.