Michelsen says she's sticking to plan

Sporting the can-do Kiwi attitude, Northland's Stacey Michelsen and her Black Sticks teammates are not letting the trouble brewing in New Delhi ahead of next month's Commonwealth Games phase them.
"We are still training and preparing as if we are still going," the 19-year-old Auckland University Law and Commerce student said. Michelsen is one of six Northlanders set to compete at the Games, including fellow Black Sticks Ella Gunson, Anna Thorpe, Charlotte and Samantha Harrison and lawns bowler Manu Timoti.
Whether the New Zealand contingent will travel, and whether the Games will actually go ahead is in doubt after reports of an unacceptable standard of accommodation and hygiene surfaced since NZ chef de mission Dave Currie arrived in the Indian capital last week.
The shooting of two Taiwanese tourists at a mosque in the heart of New Delhi, attributed to Islamic militant group the Indian Mujahideen, has also heightened fears about the terrorist threat to the Commonwealth Games.
The Black Sticks head into the Games on the back of the Champions Trophy in Nottingham during July, where they placed fifth, as well as the World Cup in Argentina earlier this month, where they beat China to finish in seventh spot.
While it was an honour to play at the two biggest tournaments in the hockey arena, just as much prestige was attached to competing at the Commonwealth Games.
The thought of not being able to play there was frustrating, Michelsen said.
"Now that we've played at those two big tournaments, we have got a taste for playing at awesome events like them ... I think we have the potential to do well at these games, and the whole team believes that ... everyone would be disappointed if they said we were not going. The games are a special event - not any ordinary tour or tournament, and being part of the whole New Zealand team is great."
Michelsen said it would not even cross her mind to say no to competing at the games because of recent problems in New Delhi. "We have been getting regular updates from the New Zealand Olympic Committee and because of what they are saying, I don't read too much into what the media is saying. The NZOC have given us good advice about security plans in place, transport and the venue and it is all sounding good for us ... we will have to see how this week goes."
Although reports had been worrying about the risk of terrorism attacks Michelsen said with the amount of security guards in place, it should be safe.
"Some people believe that having so many guards in place is a worry - but I feel safer for it. I give my parents the same updates as I get - so they know as much as I do and are supportive of me travelling," she said.
Most of the games contingent from NZ are scheduled to depart for New Delhi, on Saturday - including the men's and women's hockey teams. Before their departure, the NZOC will meet tomorrow to decide whether New Zealand will take part at the games which start on October 3 and conclude on October 14.