Creators of the Afro-Asian Games billed them as second only to the Olympics in size and scale, with nearly 100 nations represented.

But with less than a month to go to the inaugural edition of the Games, the reaction from many top athletes is sheer indifference.

Organisers are unable to confirm entries, the tennis event may be scrapped through lack of interest and little has been done to promote the eight-day Games which start on October 24 in Hyderabad.

Indian sports officials are so worried top African athletes might stay away that they are chartering two flights to fly them in directly from the All-Africa games being held in Nigeria from Saturday until October 18.

Critics say the Games are an unwelcome addition to an already overcrowded international calendar and have come at a busy time for athletes preparing for next year's Athens Olympics.

The Games were originally planned for November 2001 but were postponed because of security fears in the wake of the September 11 attacks in the United States and amid feuding between top Indian sports officials.

Weightlifter Karnam Malleswari, who won India's only bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, said she preferred to train for the November world championships in Vancouver, Canada, to earn a qualifying berth for Athens rather than go to the Games.

"If we have to get enough points to gain entries for Athens, I should go to Canada," said Malleswari, who is making a comeback after childbirth.

NEGATIVE ASPECTS

Virendra Nanavati, secretary of the Swimming Federation of India added: "Top Chinese and Japanese swimmers have their own schedules. One can't be sure of the quality of the field."

Indian officials have said the tennis competition might have to be scrapped due to the absence of top players.

Organisers of the Paris ATP Masters series event, which begins on October 27, have already said they expect to welcome Asia's top male player, Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand, at their event.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi, the prime mover behind the Games, has himself admitted that they might run into problems.

"There might be glitches because these are the first Games but the negative aspects should not be projected by the media," he pleaded at a function launching the 30-day countdown.

The Games are being put together at huge cost. The government has released some 1.35 billion rupees and officials said more money would be needed to foot the bill for nearly 3,000 athletes and officials.

Originally scheduled for New Delhi, the Games were moved to Hyderabad to take advantage of the infrastructure built in the city for last year's national games.

Competitions are to be held in athletics, boxing, hockey, soccer, shooting, swimming, tennis and weightlifting.

CRICKET SERIES

Advance publicity has been minimal and only the state-run television channel is expected to show live broadcasts. Television audiences are expected to be small as most cricket-crazy Indians will be glued instead to a one-day series at home involving New Zealand and Australia during the same period.

Top IOA officials argue that the Games will boost sports cooperation among the developing countries on both continents and that the Games have the potential to grow like the Asian Games, the inaugural edition of which was hosted by New Delhi in 1951.

Despite all the misgivings, India expects some positive fallout from the Games.

The Andhra Pradesh government is lending its full support to the Games in a bid to boost its image and become a future destination for Formula One motor racing.

Officials say the Games will also provide an ideal opportunity to advertise New Delhi's bid to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

They plan to fly several delegates from the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) to Hyderabad during the event.

The CGF will decide between New Delhi and the only other candidate, Hamilton in Ontario, Canada, on November 13 during its congress in Jamaica.