Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) today named the 191 athletes (108 men and 83 women) selected for Team Scotland to compete at the XIX Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India 3-14 October 2010. The team size is comparable with that selected for Manchester at 193 and is significantly bigger than the 166 selected for Melbourne despite rigorous selection standards being upheld. Representing the team sports will be men’s and women’s hockey and Rugby 7s. All three teams have found themselves in tough pools, but will be battling strongly, determined to get through the group stages and show what they can do. Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) today named the 191 athletes (108 men and 83 women) selected for Team Scotland to compete at the XIX Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India 3-14 October 2010. The team size is comparable with that selected for Manchester at 193 and is significantly bigger than the 166 selected for Melbourne despite rigorous selection standards being upheld. Representing the team sports will be men’s and women’s hockey and Rugby 7s. All three teams have found themselves in tough pools, but will be battling strongly, determined to get through the group stages and show what they can do. Congratulating all members of Team Scotland, Michael Cavanagh, Chairman, CGS, said: “Our selection process has been rigorous and robust throughout, and although the standards set have been tough, our athlete’s have clearly risen to the challenge as shown by the increase in the numbers achieving them since the last Games. I would like to thank the participating governing bodies of sport, which have worked closely with us to ensure that the process has been successfully and fairly implemented. “However making the team is just the first step on the journey, now will come the real test for the athletes of performing to their potential in Delhi. With just 46 days to go until the start of the Games I wish everyone all the very best with their final preparations and I look forward to watching them in action in October.” Included in the line-up is Olympic cycling silver medallist, Ross Edgar, several World and European Champions, swimmer Hannah Miley being the latest to join these esteemed ranks, and an impressive 18 Commonwealth Games medallists who have won a total of 30 medals between them. Amongst those Games medallist named today are David Carry and Caitlin McClatchey, double gold medallist from Melbourne who set the Scotland team alight, both winning gold on the first day of competition, beating the home favourites Australia. Also part of the 2010 swim team are Robbie Renwick, Kris Gilchrist and Andy Hunter who all won relay medals in 2006. Joining them in the aquatics squad are three divers including the Galashan twins Helen and Carol, who competed as gymnasts in the 2006 Games, and at 14 years of age and the youngest Team Scotland member, diver Grace Reid, who finished in a remarkable fourth place at the European Championships last week in the 3m springboard individual event. The lawn bowlers will be out in force on the artificial surface in Delhi, with pairs gold medallist from Melbourne, Paul Foster, playing in the singles this year; pairs specialist and gold medallist from 1998 Margaret Letham and the legendary Willie Wood from Haddington. Willie will be making a record eighth Commonwealth Games appearance when he steps out onto the rink in Delhi at the remarkable age of 72, which will also make him the oldest competitor in Team Scotland 2010. No other athlete in any sport has matched this significant milestone. He first represented Scotland at the Games in 1974 and has won four medals and there is no doubt about his appetite for further success. Wood joins fellow 2008 triples world champions David Peacock and Wayne Hogg. Hot on Willie’s heels is shooter Ian Marsden, who will be making his seventh Games appearance. Ian is a medallist from 1990 and 1994 and was the flag carrier for Scotland at the Opening Ceremony in 2006. Also joining Ian in the shooting team is silver medallist from Melbourne Neil Stirton and 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games medallists and exciting young talents, Jennifer McIntosh and Kay Copland who compete in the small bore rifle disciplines of prone and 3 position. Athletics medallists from 2002 and 2006 Lee McConnell and Chris Baillie  will be joined by European Championships 400m hurdlers finalist, Eilidh Child and no less than seven field event athletes, including Commonwealth ranked numbers 3 and 4 in the hammer, Mark Dry and Andy Frost. Badminton singles bronze medallist from Melbourne Susan Egelstaff will be leading the charge for badminton, along with bronze medallist on high bar Adam Cox from gymnastics, track cycling bronze medallists Kate Cullen and James McCallum and double bronze medallist in weightlifting Tommy Yule all securing return places on the team. All will be looking to find top form and repeat their medal winning performances, along with a host of other athletes keen to become the latest Scottish sporting heroes, although the Games in Delhi will be a totally new experience for most of the athletes and will present a range of different challenges. Also included are 31 competitors who have successfully made the transition from previous Commonwealth Youth Games Teams, nine of whom were in the last Youth Games in Pune and have had the benefit of experiencing the conditions in India for themselves. Scotland will be participating in 16 out of the 17 sports on the Games programme (not netball). There are also some new sports on the programme in tennis and women’s wrestling, whilst archery makes a long awaited return to the Games. Scotland’s tennis line-up includes British number one Elena Baltacha, a former Youth Games medallist from 2000 and mixed doubles specialist and Wimbledon Champion Jamie Murray. While wrestling has had five women athletes selected who have made the successful transfer from judo, including Commonwealth medallists from 1990 and 2002 Donna and Fiona Robertson, the second set of twins on the team. Squash will also be sending a team of six players and will be targeting the doubles competitions where they believe the playing field is very level and they have the best chance of success. The boxers are up for the challenge of continuing their unique record of being the only sport to win a medal at every Games, whilst table tennis is delighted to be back in the thick of Commonwealth Games action after missing out in Melbourne. Representing the team sports will be men’s and women’s hockey and Rugby 7s. All three teams have found themselves in tough pools, but will be battling strongly, determined to get through the group stages and show what they can do. Congratulating all members of Team Scotland, Michael Cavanagh, Chairman, CGS, said: “Our selection process has been rigorous and robust throughout, and although the standards set have been tough, our athlete’s have clearly risen to the challenge as shown by the increase in the numbers achieving them since the last Games. I would like to thank the participating governing bodies of sport, which have worked closely with us to ensure that the process has been successfully and fairly implemented. “However making the team is just the first step on the journey, now will come the real test for the athletes of performing to their potential in Delhi. With just 46 days to go until the start of the Games I wish everyone all the very best with their final preparations and I look forward to watching them in action in October.” Also at the announcement to extend her good wishes to the team, was Minister for Public Health and Sport Shona Robison who said: “I wish all the athletes selected to represent Team Scotland at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi the very best of luck.  All of these athletes have reached this point through sheer hard work, dedication and commitment and are an inspiration to us all. “The 2010 Games is a perfect platform for our athletes to demonstrate their talent and ability on the international sporting stage.  The Games will also provide experience for those who have aspirations to compete for Scotland in front of a home crowd when Glasgow hosts the Games in 2014. “I am looking forward to going to Delhi to support the team and I’m sure I will witness some outstanding performances.” The athletes will be supported by a staff of 91, comprising team management, coaches, medical and sports science support, including doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists, physiologists and performance analysts many of whom work with athletes on a day to bay basis through the sportscotland institute of sport network. Louise Martin CBE, Chair of sportscotland said: “On behalf of sportscotland I would like to congratulate each of the athletes selected to represent Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. sportscotland is committed to the continual development of high performance sport in Scotland through our investment in governing bodies of sport and Commonwealth Games Scotland as the lead body for Commonwealth sport in Scotland. We also provide support and expertise to sport and athletes through the sportscotland institute of sport network. “The Commonwealth Games holds particular significance for Scotland, being the only major Games, where we compete as a nation in our own right. This is even more important as we prepare to host the Games, in Glasgow 2014. There have been some fantastic performances by Scottish athletes in the run up to Delhi, and I am sure that they will do us all proud come the Games in October.” Extending their best wishes to the team, Steve Reid, Retail Director, Clydesdale Bank said: “Representing Team Scotland, wearing the team colours and competing under the Saltire flag is I’m sure one of the proudest moments of each of your careers. On behalf of Team Scotland partners, Clydesdale Bank I want to wish you every success in the challenges that lie in wait for you during the 19th Commonwealth Games in Delhi.  Good luck and best wishes from everyone at the Clydesdale Bank.” The first team departure for the Games will be on 23 September from Glasgow Airport flying with Emirates Airlines, one of the team’s main sponsors. Denise Holmes, Emirates Sales Manager Scotland said: We are proud and excited once again to be the Scottish team’s official travel partner and look forward to sending them on their way to Delhi in style. The opportunity to demonstrate our support for the best in Scottish sport is a real thrill for everyone at Emirates – we’ll be doing everything we can to ensure that the team benefits from our expertise in helping long-haul passengers arrive at their destinations in the greatest possible comfort. Competition gets underway on Monday 4 October when swimming, archery, badminton, gymnastics, hockey, lawn bowls, squash, table tennis, tennis, and weightlifting will all be in action. RUGBY SEVENS (12 MEN = 12) ATHLETE POSITION BORN / LIVES Mike Adamson Scrum Half/Stand-off Stirling / Glasgow G5 Alex Blair Stand-off Edinburgh / Edinburgh EH5 David Callam Forward Edinburgh / Edinburgh EH3 Scott Forrest Forward Rutherglen / Glasgow G41 Chris Fusaro Forward Kirkcaldy / Glasgow G3 John Houston Centre Edinburgh / Edinburgh EH7 Lee Jones Scrum Half/Winger Edinburgh / Selkirk TD7 Stuart McInally Forward Edinburgh / Edinburgh EH10 Scott Newlands Forward Edinburgh / Edinburgh EH10 Hefin O’Hare Centre/Winger Wrexham / Glasgow G11 Colin Shaw Centre/Winger Irvine / Glasgow G41 Andrew Turnbull Winger Edinburgh / Edinburgh EH11 Reserves   Struan Dewar Forward Aberdeen / Edinburgh EH12 Peter Horne Stand Off/Centre Aberdeen / Cupar KY15 James King Stand/Off/Centre/Hooker Berwick–upon-Tweed / Edinburgh EH6 Scott Riddell Forward Edinburgh / Newcastle  Team Leader – Karen BurnettHead Coach – Stevie GemmellAssistant Coach – Graham ShielPerformance Analyst – Ciaran Beattie