Two Australian, one British athlete pull out

Melbourne:

Australian cyclist Travis Meyer and table tennis playerStephanie Sang on Sunday joined the growing list of athletes pulling out of thetroubled Commonwealth Games in Delhi, citing security and health concerns.

Also,Britain's number one tennis player Elena Baltacha has joined the growing listof athletes withdrawing from the competition.

Withdrawal by Meyer and Sang took the number of Australian pullouts to three. Last week, discus world champion Dani Samuels' was the first to skip the Games.

Australian Commonwealth Games chief Perry Crosswhite dubbed the pullouts as disappointing.

"I am disappointed on the basis that these Games will be a good experience particularly for all the athletes who come to it and of course we wouldn't be here if we didn't think the security wasn't being organised well and at the level it should be," Crosswhite was quoted as saying by the 'Australian Associated Press'.

Crosswhite said the recently-married Sang pulled out because of security fears, and a replacement for her on the team was being sought.

Australia's athletes will begin arriving in Delhi from Wednesday for the October 3 to 14 event.