Caerphilly bowlers Martin Selway and Marc Wyatt are among the first athletes to be chosen to represent Wales at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Martin, 46, and Marc, 32, who both live in the Caerphilly area and play for Caerphilly Town Bowling Club, have been picked to play for Wales at Lawn Bowls in the tournament in the Indian capital in October.
Martin, who will be in the Pairs event, and Marc, picked for the Triples, will be part of the 12-strong men’s and women’s bowls teams heading for Delhi, taking part in three separate competitions – Singles, Pairs and Triples events.
The teams are looking to improve on the two singles silver medals won by Wales at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Both Martin and Marc won bronze in both the Triples and Fours events at last year’s Atlantic Championships. Martin also won gold in the Pairs and bronze in the Fours at the 2007 championships, and Marc was the 2006 Welsh Fours champion. They are both members of the Wales Elite Bowls Squad.
Led by team manager Phil Young, the men’s bowling team is confident of winning medals in Delhi.
Martin said: “Men’s bowling has gone from strength to strength over the years and the nation has historically produced successful bowls teams in major international events.
“This one is particularly experienced and strong and includes some exceptional talents. We are looking forward to getting to Delhi and giving it our best shot.”
Marc said: “We are a team with a great future and it’s thanks to the support, investment and encouragement of Welsh bowling clubs and counties that the team has the opportunity to play at international level, representing Wales.”
The Commonwealth Games bowls competitions will take place over nine consecutive days in the 75,000-capacity Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi – the tournament’s main venue which will also host the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the full athletics programme.
Up to 8,000 competitors from 71 countries – including up to 200 Welsh athletes – will compete in 17 sports in the 2010 Games from October 3-14.
The tournament is the only multi-sport international event in which Wales competes as a country in its own right, and Welsh athletes hold 15 current Commonwealth Games records in 110 hurdles, 400 metres, cycling, shooting and weightlifting categories. Wales won 19 medals at the Melbourne Games four years ago.