New Delhi: The athletes reacted with anger but the officialdom chose to weigh its words before responding to Indian Olympic Association chief Narinder Batra's assertion that the Commonwealth Games is a waste of time and the country should consider a permanent pull-out.

Batra, while speaking at an event in Bangalore on Tuesday, said the level of competition at the CWG is not particularly high and that India should consider a pull-out to improve its own standards.