Commonwealth Games

Ben Smith could not have had a more simple homecoming yesterday.

It is nothing short of bizarre that the utterances of a breakfast television host have damaged the huge effort in recent years that New Zealand has put into strengthening its relationship with India.

Southland sisters Kirstin and Caitlin Anderson hope to follow in the footsteps of the Daniels siblings and taste success at the Commonwealth Games.

Australians are being warned not to flash their national colours while in India for the Commonwealth Games, but New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has no immediate plans to follow suit.

India is very much in the news at the moment due to the problems it has had meeting deadlines for Commonwealth Games facilities in Delhi.

What a relief it will be for many if the Commonwealth Games can begin in Delhi on October 3 without further problems.

New Zealand would be unlikely to go against the grain of countries such as Britain and Australia in deciding on whether to pull out of the Commonwealth Games, Prime Minister John Key said this afternoon.

Jessica Hamill is like a lot of New Zealand athletes going to the Commonwealth Games next month.

Otago loose forward Adam Thomson's playing future - including a trip to the Commonwealth Games - is in doubt after he suffered a knee injury yesterday.

After making the big decision to stay with the Highlanders for the next two years, Adam Thomson has a big month ahead. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn talks to the loose forward about sevens and bringing up a milestone for Otago.