Adlington leads English medal charge
OLYMPIC swimming star Rebecca Adlington enjoyed more success as the Commonwealth Games got underway in Delhi yesterday, leading a host of English medals in the pool.
Adlington took bronze in the women’s 200m freestyle, an event she is only experimenting with having specialised in longer distances, with Jazz Carlin of Wales grabbing silver.
England’s Michael Rock swam to the silver medal in the men’s 200m, while the men’s 4x100m freestyle team also took silver. Scotland’s David Carry won bronze in the men’s 400m freestyle. Outside of the pool, there was more silver for England in the men’s team gymnastics, where they were edged out by Australia.
Adlington is better known for her triumphs in the 400m and 800m, events in which the 21-year-old has won Olympic golds, but is trying out the 200m with a view to expanding her repertoire at London 2012.
“I’m very pleased with that swim, the 200m for me is a bonus event, and it’s nice to get involved,” she said.
“It’s definitely a tough week but now’s the time to try it, try to cope with it and see how you do. If I don’t cope with it and tire towards the end of the week, I have the chance to say it didn’t work for me. Better to try it now than at the Worlds or Olympics.”
Carlin, the first Welsh woman to win Commonwealth gold for 36 years, said: “I’m really chuffed. It’s been so long since a Welsh woman won medals, it’s such an honour.”
Rock, beaten to gold by South Africa’s Chad le Clos, said: “I’ve had a great year, finishing my degree and now a great performance at a major meet to win my first medal.”
Boxing weigh-in delayed due to scales complaints
GAMES organisers suffered another setback yesterday when boxing weigh-ins were postponed amid concerns the scales were giving faulty readings.
Australian officials complained after one of their fighters was deemed overweight, and new readings will be done today after the scales have been recalibrated.
“They went to the sauna trying to lose weight and when they came back weighed more than the last reading,” said an Australian spokesman.
Indian officials have already been hit by the withdrawal of several stars, the collapse of a bridge, and health fears.