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NEW DELHI: Scottish police are investigating reports that several athletes from Pakistan and Uganda did not return home after the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow ended last Sunday.“Police Scotland has received reports of several athletes who are unaccounted for,” a spokesperson said late on Tuesday, as quoted by Al Jazeera.“Enquiries are ongoing to assess the circumstances, and early engagement is taking place with the Home Office.”Uganda’s NBS Sport reported that four of its six boxers were missing before the team was due to fly home on Tuesday. One of the athletes reportedly told the broadcaster that they planned to seek asylum. Pakistan Today also reported that one Pakistani boxer did not turn up for the return flight.Pakistani boxer Qudratullah has reportedly gone missing in Glasgow just hours before the country’s team was scheduled to leave for home. According to Geo News, Pakistan Boxing Federation sources said Qudratullah was last seen in his hotel room at around 2am.Officials later checked his room but could not find him. The Pakistani team was expected to gather in the hotel lobby at 9am before heading to the airport. His passport and return ticket are reportedly still with the team manager.Cases of athletes going missing after the Commonwealth Games have been reported in previous editions. After the 2018 Gold Coast Games, authorities were still searching for 50 athletes and officials a month later, while another 190 had sought asylum.Pakistan’s 21-member contingent ended the 2026 Commonwealth Games with just one medal. Boxer Fatima Zahra won bronze in the women’s 60kg category, becoming the first Pakistani female boxer to win a Commonwealth Games medal.The result was Pakistan’s lowest medal tally since 1998. Olympic javelin champion Arshad Nadeem also missed out on a medal despite being one of the country’s biggest hopes.
