The full Scotland team for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhhas been named, with 191 athletes (108 men and 83 women) selected compete India from 3-14 October 2010. 

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 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 aquatics team 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.”

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.

  

“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.