Otago represented in seven sports

OTAGO will be able to cheer on several of its own at next month’s Commonwealth Games.

The region will be represented in seven sports on the Gold Coast from April 4 to April 15.

It is best represented in hockey, where four players are included in the Black Sticks sides.

Experienced trio Hugo Inglis, Kane Russell and Nick Ross are in the men’s team, while Tessa Jopp is in the women’s squad.

Russell has played more than 100 games for the side, while Inglis has played more than 200 and was part of the bronze medalwinning team at the 2010 Games in Delhi.

Blair Tarrant was another with a chance, but was unavailable with injury.

Jopp has played 17 matches. Originally from Maniototo, she now studies in Auckland and captained the Southern Storm side in last year’s national hockey league.

Netball is the other sport with multiple competitors as both midcourter Shannon Francois and shooter Te Paea SelbyRickit are in the Silver Ferns.

The Southern Steel duo are both based in Dunedin. Francois returned to the city, having last year been in Invercargill.

Queenstown boxer Richie Hadlow will compete in the men’s under64kg category.

It is his first Games, but he comes with plenty of pedigree, having claimed four national titles.

Triathlete Tony Dodds has been included in the squad after initially being left out.

Four years ago, he finished 10th in Glasgow, and claimed fifth in the mixed relay.

At the Rio Olympics he finished 21st.

F46 parajavelin thrower Holly Robinson, who was a silver medallist at the Rio Paralympics, is Otago’s sole athletics competitor.

The Games include various para events, rather than having a separate competition like the Paralympics or para world championships.

Vilimoni Koroi has been named in the men’s sevens team looking to reclaim gold after losing it for the first time in Glasgow.

Swimmer Carina Doyle, who is now based in Auckland but still represents St Clair in surf lifesaving, will compete.

Several other athletes with Otago links, including cyclist Hamish Bond and sevens player Kelly Brazier, are also in action in various sports.