PHELPS ON TARGET FOR WELSH GOLD
TEAM Wales is now seventh in the Commonwealth Games medal table after another successful day.
In total Wales have 22 medals including seven golds in what has so far being a bumper games.
Wales’ youngest Commonwealth Games competitor of all time was however knocked out of the table tennis singles.
Eleven-year-old Anna Hursey from Cardiff has captured the hearts of viewers. She lost 4-0 to Malaysia’s Li Sian Alice Chang – ranked 126 places above her – in her second group game meaning she will not progress through to the last 32.
However according to coach Nathan Thomas, she should be incredibly proud.
“She has done well just to get there because she is so young,” said Mr Thomas who runs Wales biggest table tennis club Cardiff City Table Tennis.
According to Mr Thomas, Anna’s success is not down to pure talent.
“She was keen when she was young and so were her parents. I don’t see it as talent, I don’t believe in talent. If you put it down to talent it underplays all the hard work she had put in. All of those hours on the table have paid off.”
Wales’ seventh gold medal came when David Phelps came top during the Shooting Men’s 50m Rifle Prone.
The final took place at the Belmont Shooting Centre in Brisbane, where Phelps set a Games record.
Phelps, from Cardiff, celebrated his 41st birthday in style to reclaim the title he won 12 years previously in Melbourne.
He used all his experience to qualify for the final, alongside an array of Commonwealth champions and Olympic medallists. And it proved to be his day as he triumphed with a total score of 248.8, defeating Scotland’s Neil Stirton in the final elimination round.
“I can’t describe it,” Phelps said afterwards. “Winning the first one (at Melbourne 2006) and then winning a second one. I can’t believe it. So many things I want to say, but I can’t. Words escape me. It’s the best. The absolute best.
“It’s one of the best birthdays. I can’t think of any that have topped it. I’m over the moon. I never expected this. Making the final was my goal, but this is just - wow!”
It was also a successful day in the pool. Daniel Jervis won silver in the 1500m freestyle, while Georgia Davies won bronze in the 50m backstroke and the 4x100m medley relay final on the final night of the swimming competition in Gold Coast.
A brilliant swim from Jervis saw him upgrade the bronze he won in Glasgow after he beat his lifetime best by three seconds, finishing behind Australia’s Jack McLoughlin who added a gold to his silver from the
400m freestyle event.
Davies won bronze in the women’s 50m backstroke final. The 27-year-old, defending her Commonwealth title, had clocked the fastest time in qualifying, but was beaten in what was almost a photo finish on the line. It was a third successive games medal for Davies in the event.
Singer Katherine Jenkins was full of praise on social media. She tweeted: “Congrats to Dan Jarvis on his silver medal and the most lovely post swim words about his Mam, Dad and girlfriend who I know will be immensely proud!”
On the track Melissa Courtney won bronze in the Women’s 1500m final, a fourth athletics medal for the team so far.
After a delayed start, Melissa stayed calm and controlled. Showing excellent strength she pulled past Linden Hall of Australia to come home in third in a PB time of 4.03:44.
She said: “I’m in complete shock, can’t believe I ran that fast. I can’t believe it. I felt strong in the last 100m, the crowd were going crazy, and I’d tried to pretend the crowd were cheering for me as I came past the Aussie. I’ve got so many family and fans out here, its my first big final, and it went so well. The team is so close, its been really special.
“In 2015 I was diagnosed with a metabolic condition which I’ve had to overcome. My coach and family have helped me through this, and having been inspired by being there watching at Glasgow, I knew I had to be here. I’ve still got the 5,000m to come now and I’m looking forward to that too.”
WALES were seventh in the medals table yesterday after yet another successful day at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Shooter David Phelps, from Cardiff, took Wales’ gold medal tally up to seven after finishing first in the Shooting Men’s 50m Rifle Prone – on his 41st birthday.
The final took place at the Belmont Shooting Centre in Brisbane, where Phelps set a Games record.
Neil Stirton of Scotland came in second place while Kenneth Parr of England took home the bronze medal.
Elsewhere on the Gold Coast, swimmer Georgia Davies picked up bronze in the Women’s 50m backstroke.
Emily Seebohm of Australia picked up gold, while Kylie Masse of Canada secured silver.
Davies said: “I know I can always do better but I’m so proud to be in the top three!”
Swimmer Daniel Jervis won silver in the men’s 1500m freestyle, with Jack McLoughlin taking gold and Mack Horton taking bronze, both of Australia.
Jervis said: “All I wanted to do was make Team Wales and my family proud. I fought my hardest, and I’m so happy.”
Melissa Courtney ran a welljudged 1500m final to claim a bronze medal in the final event of Day 3 of the Athletics programme at the Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast.
After a delayed start, Courtney stayed calm and controlled, moving her way through the field to leave herself in fourth coming into the home straight. She managed to pull past Linden Hall of Australia to come home in third in a big personal best time of 4min 3.44 sec.
Speaking afterwards, she said: “I’m in complete shock, can’t believe I ran that fast. I can’t believe it. I felt strong in the last 100m. I’ve got so many family and fans out here, it’s my first big final, and it went so well. The Wales team is so close, it’s been really special.”
Georgia Davies, Chloe Tutton, Alys Thomas and Kathryn Greenslade were also celebrating after securing bronze in the women’s 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre. Wales claimed bronze with a time of 4min 0.75sec, while Australia claimed gold and Canada picked up silver.
Wales’ medal tally now stands at seven gold, eight silver, and seven bronze.