It has not been an easy week for the Delhi Commonwealth Games organising committee but with promises that the stadia and accommodation will be up to scratch despite the recent setbacks, it looks as though all the entered competitors will make the journey to India. Even Team England are on their way and ready to focus on bringing back a respectable medal haul. While the likes of Phillips Idowu, Jessica Ennis and Christine Ohuruogu will not be competing in Delhi, the chance is there for lesser known sportsmen and women to make their mark. Sport.co.uk look at five athletes representing England that could be in line for a medal at the Games.
Liam Tancock - Swimmer
The Exeter born swimmer is currently on a crest of a wave after a hugely successful couple of years. He is the present 50m backstroke world champion with a world record of 24.04 to boot. He comes to Delhi as the reigning Commonwealth 100m Backstroke champion which he won in 2006 in Melbourne. The victory was all the more impressive with a partisan home crowd willing the fellow Australians on. Also a European Championship medallist, Tancock will be looking to beat the Australians again on route to the London Olympics in 2012. No pressure Liam, but we’re expecting gold from you.
Shauna Thomson - Sprinter
England haven’t produced any decent female sprinters since…since…well ever! Finally we look to have produced a cracker in the shape of Shauna Thompson. She ran the third fastest time for an U17 in history in the Northern U17 Championships. The 18 year-old has developed nicely and has scored some good results in the past two years. In the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games she won gold in the 100m and 200m at the tender age of 16. She carried that form into 2009 with some good performances in the World Youth Championships in Italy, just missing out on the medals. She managed to get £30,000 of funding through an ITV program called the Million Pound Giveaway. She persuaded five millionaires to fund her through to the 2012 Olympics. Clever girl.
England Women’s Hockey Team – erm…Hockey
Not an individual but a whole team! The England Women’s Hockey Team go into these games in a buoyant mood and a feeling that they can go one better than last time. In Melbourne, four years ago, they went away with bronze but felt that they should have at least made the gold medal match. Problem is that the teams that compete in the Commonwealth are amongst the strongest in the world. Most notably South Africa, Australia and the hosts India. But England have managed to avoid them in the group stages which increases the likelihood of gold. Arch enemies Australia have a great record in the Commonwealth Games, winning in 1998 and 2006. The England have strength in depth and a teamwork ethic which has only grown in the last year. Beth Storey was voted best goalkeeper in the World Cup and Crista Cullen has become a demon from penalty corners.
Zoe Smith – Weightlifting
After completing GCSE’s, a teenager is meant to have the weight of the world off their shoulders. Instead, Zoe Smith has a completely different weight to contend with. Smith is the youngest athlete selected for the England team at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. She is one of a 12 strong weightlifting team aiming for success in India. Smith has just completed her GCSE’s and is now one of the favourites to take gold in October. She stands just 5ft 2inch tall and will be competing in the 58kg category. Before every lift, Smith plugs her iPod in and listens to ‘All the Small Things’ by Blink-182. She feels the upbeat nature of the song inspires her. Whatever works for you Zoe.
Rajiv Ouseph – Badminton
Badminton came to prominence in Britain after the exploits of Neil Robertson and Gail Emms in the 2004 Olympics Games. England now have a world class singles player in Rajiv Ouseph. The 26 year-old studied media and communication at Loughborough University. He earned his first England cap at the age of 19 and has never looked back. He has recently boosted his world ranking by winning the prestigious US Open title and climbing to 16. He also won bronze in this year’s European badminton Championships. If he wasn’t a badminton player he admits he’d be a journalist. Sorry Rajiv, I’m doing the writing here.