The Commonwealth Youth Games are one of the most important sporting events a budding international athlete can attend. 

They give a promising teenager the opportunity to represent their country in a multi-sport Games, similar in format and atmosphere to the Commonwealth Games or the Olympics.  Quite simply, competing in such an event is invaluable preparation for an athlete who wants to perform on the international stage at the highest level.

Every second of experience, both on and off the field, is vital, so that when it comes to the big stage, the athletes know what to expect.  As an adult, if they can hark back an experience they had while still in their teens, they might just be able to deal with the situation better.  It’s a long-shot, but every fraction counts in elite sport.  Think of the following scenarios:

1. You are a middle-distance runner.  You have a precise routine to prepare yourself for your race, the 800m.  So how do you react if your build-up to the 800m is interrupted by a series of false starts in the men’s 100m, delaying your start time?

2. You are a rifle shooter.  A clear head and sharp mind is paramount to winning a medal.  How do you cope if the Australian team are having a party in their lodgings next door to you in the village, while you are trying to get some sleep in preparation for your event tomorrow?

3. You are hot favourite to win a medal in the 200m backstroke.  But in the semi-final you are blasted out of the water by a Canadian swimmer you’ve never encountered before.  You scrape into the final, but now you realise this event won’t be as straightforward as you initially thought.  What do you do?

All these questions have multiple answers.  But if an athlete can think back to what happened at the Youth Games when he or she was 17 and recall how they felt then, perhaps that little nugget of experience will help.  Perhaps it will make the difference between gold and silver, or a medal or no medal.

And that’s not to mention the prestige, and fun, that comes with representing your country at such a high calibre international sporting event.  For some, it may be a stepping stone.  For others, it may be their pinnacle.  Either way, the experience is priceless.

The Commonwealth Youth Games has already proven its value to Scotland.  In 2004 a team of 69 was sent, and several of those athletes have gone on to represent their country with some distinction four years on.

Rugby players John Barclay and Ross Rennie both won their first full caps for Scotland in the 2007/2008 season having played for the Scotland sevens squad in the 2004 Games, while badminton player Imogen Bankier went on from her Youth Games experience to team up with Robert Blair and climb to 12th place in the world mixed doubles rankings.

Swimmers Hannah Miley, Andy Hunter and Robbie Renwick have just recently returned from Beijing, where they represented Team GB at the Olympics, only four years after they competed at the Youth Games, while World silver medallist and European Champion Kirsty Balfour also competed in the first Youth Games, in Scotland, in 2000.

Gymnast Danny Keatings was also there in 2004.  He has since captained Britain to victory at the European Junior Championships and went on to compete for Team GB at the Beijing Olympics.  Triple jumper Nony Mordi has also recently been selected to represent the full GB senior squad for the first time having jumped for Scotland in ’04.

The CYG has a knack of helping set Scotland’s athletes on the road to the top.  So who can we look out for at this year’s event in India?

Scotland have entered a total of 44 athletes in eight different events: athletics, badminton, boxing, shooting, swimming, table-tennis, weightlifting, wrestling

Amongst the athletics team members are some familiar names with strong links to Commonwealth Games success. Eilish McColgan, daughter of former World and Commonwealth champion runner Liz, will compete in the 1500m, whilst Lynsey Sharp, daughter of Commonwealth Games gold medallist Cameron and Scotland representative Carol Sharp, will compete in the 800m.

In badminton meanwhile, Martin Campbell is also following a proud family tradition, taking over the mantle from his father, who represented Scotland as a junior.  He will play in the singles as well as teaming up with Angus Gilmour in the doubles.

The boxers will be keen to follow up on some superb British and Irish performances at the Beijing Olympics by sweeping up a few medals as well.  Jonathan Slowey from Glasgow will be hoping to build upon his already sterling record of being a four time Scottish Champion, a British silver medallist and European bronze medallist, and prove that he is able to cut it at the highest level.

In smallbore rifle shooting, Jennifer McIntosh is the daughter of Commonwealth Games medallist Shirley, with father Donald a representative in two Games, and hopes the experience of the Games will send her a step closer to her ultimate goal, shooting at the Olympics.  Jennifer’s team-mate, Kay Copeland is already a Scottish record-holder and is also expected to compete for medals, alongside fellow Grampian shooter Catriona McGregor.

Those watching from Dunedin will be viewing the swimming with a particular interest, as four of the ten-strong team travelling to India represent the Edinburgh club – Robyn Matthews, Lucy Ellis, Ian Scanlon and Daniel Scott.  The trip to Pune is also a dream come true for Andrew Haslett, who after having a hernia operated on last year doubted his chances of making the voyage.

It is the two Craigs who will be flying the flag for Scotland in table-tennis. Craig Howieson, from Edinburgh, is already training full-time with London 2012 in his sights, while Glasgow’s Craig Hardie will be using his experience from Drumchapel Table-Tennis club – one of the best in Europe – to take him to the top at the Games.

The weightlifters are often thought as the biggest of the bunch to board the flight, but try telling that to petit pocket-rocket Amy Hamilton, a former gymnast who has already become British champion at under-20, under-18 and under-17 level, as well as leading Team GB at the European Junior Championships.  So she has the double advantage of being experienced in winning and in competing at the highest level.

Finally, the wrestlers will be there to add a bit of grunt to proceedings.  15 year-old Connor Evans will be one of the youngest athletes on display at the Games, but he won’t let it show.  Having already become British champion in the under-67kg category – even though he is light enough to compete at under under-63kg – he won’t be fazed by the prospect of facing some of the grizzlier ties in the event.

So remember to cheer for Scotland at this year’s Commonwealth Youth Games.  You may well be watching some future Olympic champions.  And you’ll get all the updates right here at www.inthewinningzone.com!

Team Scotland, who will compete at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India, 11-18 October

Athletics

Lisa Glover, Glenrothes
Caitlyn Mackie, Airth
Eilish McColgan, Carnoustie
Myra Perkins, Falkirk
Beth Potter, Bearsden, Glasgow, WSIS
Lynsey Sharp, Edinburgh, TFIS
Daniel Carlin, Barrhead
Chris O'Hare, West Linton
Calum Innes, Bearsden, Glasgow
Callum Sharp, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow

Badminton

Martin Campbell, Edinburgh, ESIS
Angus Gilmour, Troon, WSIS
Craig Pollock, Longniddry, ESIS
Paul Van Rietvelde, Longniddry, ESIS

Boxing

Sean Finney, Kirkcaldy
Steven McAllister, Aberdeen
Robert McKee, Fauldhouse
Jonathan Slowey, Glasgow, WSIS
Ryan Smith, Glasgow
Josh Taylor, Prestonpans

Shooting

Kay Copland, Banff
Catriona McGregor, Aberdeen, GIS
Jennifer McIntosh, Falkirk, CSIS
Rory McAlpine, Lasswade, Midlothian, ESIS
Ben Wilson, Islay, WSIS

Swimming

Lucy Ellis, Dalgety Bay, ESIS
Sara Hamilton, Stonehaven
Megan Gilchrist, Bathgate, SIS
Robyn Mathews, Edinburgh, ESIS
Sally Wood, Edinburgh, ESIS
Ewan Johnstone, Edinburgh
Andrew Haslett, Edinburgh, SIS
Iain Scanlon, Shotts, ESIS
Daniel Scott, Glenrothes, SIS
Douglas Scott, Strathaven, WSIS

Table Tennis

Craig Howieson, Edinburgh
Craig Hardie, Glasgow

Weightlifting

Amy Hamilton, Glasgow
James Burley, Kilwinning
Dylan Scott, Kilwinning

Wrestling

Gareth Jones, Old Kilpatrick
Keiran Malone, Cumbernauld
Craig McKenna, Clydebank
Connor Evans, Denny

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