Team Scotland will be looking to use the home field advantage to win a record medal haul at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. A total of 301 athletes will represent Scotland, from the raw talent making their Commonwealth Games debuts to the seasoned competitors who have tasted success at previous Games.
We look at just some of the stand out athletes you should watch out for when the XX Commonwealth Games kicks off in Glasgow this Thursday.
Eilidh Child is hoping to end Scotland’s 20-year wait for a women’s Gold medal on the track (the last was Yvonne Murray at the Victoria 1994 Commonwealth Games), with her recent display at the Diamond League in Glasgow seeing her finish narrowly outside the Scottish record. Look out for Eilidh in the 400m Hurdles at Hampden Park when she hopes to replicate the fine form of her Silver medal win in Delhi four years ago, and her recent medal-winning performances in Moscow at the World Championships and the European Indoor Championships. There are still opportunities to watch Eilidh compete in the 400m Hurdles Round 1 10.00 29 July.
Both Lynsey Sharp and Laura Muir will be looking to join Eilidh in the medal haul as both have recently made their mark on the international athletics stage. Lynsey recently smashed the Scottish 1500m record and is competing in the 800m alongside Laura in what could be an all Scotland contest at Hampden Park. Lynsey will first step out at Hampden for the 800m Round 1 10.00 30 July.
One of Scotland’s strongest contenders in the para-sport category is 24-year-old Libby Clegg. After winning Gold at the World and European Championships, Libby is determined to make her debut at the Commonwealth Games one to remember. Competing in the T12 100m event, she is hotly tipped to start her journey towards Gold at Hampden on 28 July.
Tickets are currently still available to cheer Lynsey, Laura and Libby to victory.
Scottish Boxing’s brightest hopes for Gold rest on the shoulders of Josh Taylor, a Delhi Silver medallist and one of the top contenders for a space on the 64kg winner’s podium at the SSE Hydro. Alongside Josh are fellow Delhi 2010 boxers Joe Ham (56kg) and Ross Henderson (91+kg) and Commonwealth Youth Games hopefuls Aqeel Ahmed (49kg), Reece McFadden (52kg), Scott Forrest (81kg) and Stephen Lavelle (91kg).
Five Team Scotland representatives including Delhi Silver medallist Peter Kirkbride will be raising the bar when Weightlifting and Para-Sport Powerlifting lands in the SECC Precinct.
The three female athletes from Team Scotland, Louise Mather (69kg), Georgina Black (63kg) and Sophie Smyth (58kg) will look to dominate their respective weight categories and hope to lift medals as well as weights this summer.
Micky Yule will be making Team Scotland’s debut in Para-Sport Powerlifting, and the ex-sergeant of the Royal Engineers will be hoping that it’s first time lucky this summer.
There are still some great opportunities to watch Team Scotland’s Weightlifters and Para-sport Power lifters compete at this year’s Commonwealth Games, so snap up the last tickets here.
Scotland’s Imogen Bankier and Robert Blair will be seen as the outside threat to the dominant pair Gabrielle and Chris Adcock in what could turn out to be an England Scotland showdown in the Emirates. The Scots duo will be hoping to repeat their victory in the Scottish International Championships at the Emirates last November. The fierce competition in the mixed group contest take place on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 July right through to the eventual finalists on Monday the 28 July.
In singles competition there has been a definite upset with favourite Lei Chong Wei’s absence from the competition, giving Scotland a great chance to make the finals when they take place on Thursday 31 on July until Sunday 3 August.
All of Team Scotland’s athletes will be looking to resurrect the spirit of 86’ when Dan Travers and Billy Gilliland won Gold and Christine Heatly picked up a Bronze medal in the mixed at the 986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. Tickets are still available to witness Badminton create a smash at the Games.
Team Scotland’s 40 swimmers include Hannah Miley and Robbie Renwick, who will be looking to defend their previous Commonwealth crowns.
Miley is the reigning European Champion in both short course and long course versions of the 400m where she claimed her Silver medal, but is looking to have a say in this year’s 800m Freestyle, 200m Breaststroke and the 20m Individual Medley.
Robbie Renwick will compete in the 200m and 400m Freestyle, with the former being his area of expertise, but will look to gain further medal success in the 4X200m Freestyle and 4X100m Medley. He brings a wealth of experience after being an integral part of the Scottish medal winning teams at Melbourne 2006 and Delhi 2010.
Michael Jamieson is set to shine at the Games after his Olympic Silver medal-winning performance in the London 2012 200m Breaststroke. Tickets for Aquatics (Swimming) are in very high demand, but die-hard fans should keep checking the website for last-minute availability.
Grappling onto the scene at the Games will be the 14-strong Wrestling team from the host nation, including experienced wrestler Sarah Jones who narrowly missed out on a medal at the last Games, coming fourth place in the 72kg.
Twin sisters Fiona and Donna Robertson have experience and medals on their side with both recording Bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games of Auckland 1990 and Manchester 2002. To add extra spice to an already stern competition, both sisters could face each other in the 48kg category as they hope to clinch Gold.
These aren’t the only Scottish athletes battling for medal glory at the XX Commonwealth Games. A total of 301 elite athletes from across Scotland will be competing in 17 world-class sports across 11 days of competition, and your cheers could mean the difference between Silver and Gold.
Be part of Scotland’s legendary home-crowd support. Tickets are being released daily so remember to keep checking the Ticketing website. Buy your tickets now!