Wellington:
The first contingent of Tongan Commonwealth Games athletes left for New Delhi expressing confidence in security arrangements promised by games organisers.
Ten athletes left Tonga on Monday morning, joining eight more athletes and officials in New Zealand before flying on to New Delhi. The contingent included competitors in archery, boxing, swimming and weightlifting.
The Tongan rugby sevens team is currently competing in a tournament in Darwin, Australia and will arrive in New Delhi on Oct. 3 in time for the games' official opening.
Takitoa Taumoepeau, the secretary general of the Tongan Amateur Sports Association, said he was happy with organizers' assurances about security.
"Tonga does not have the means to send security personnel to Delhi but the reports we received say that everything is calm and the games would definitely be held (from) Oct. 3," Taumoepeau said.