FIVE STARS TO WATCH

EMMA McKEON Australia, Swimming EVENTS: 50 & 100metres freestyle and butterfly

After lighting up Tokyo 2020 with four gold and three bronze medals to become Australia’s most successful Olympian of all time, McKeon is just six shy of the absolute record of 18 Commonwealth medals. With four solo and five relay entries in Birmingham, the 28-year-old has a chance to make history in the pool... if South Africa’s pool star Chad le Clos, who has 17, doesn’t put the mark out of her reach.

MANPREET SINGH India, Hockey EVENTS: Men’s event

Skipper of the India team that bagged bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, the prolific midfielder was named World Player of the Year in 2019. Not bad for someone whose mum shut him in his room as a kid to stop him playing the sport.

Singh reckons that missing out on a Commonwealth medal in Gold Coast four years ago has forced the team to toughen up and that they are now locked in on lifting

this title for the first time.

RHYS McCLENAGHAN

Northern Ireland, Gymnastics Pommel horse

EVENTS: When world gymnastics bosses initially barred him from the Commonwealths for representing Ireland – and not the UK – in the Olympics, it took a political push before he was allowed to defend the pommel title he won in 2018. Good news for Team NI with McClenaghan landing their only gold four years ago and following it up with a European title in Glasgow. With Max Whitlock sitting the Games out, he has a shot at a repeat.

ELAINE THOMPSON-HERAH

Jamaica, Athletics EVENTS: 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay The two-time double Olympic champion was upstaged at this month’s World Championships by fellow Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who took her 10th world title and scored the 100m crown for a record fifth time. But with her rival opting out of these Games – and home hope Dina AsherSmith injured – Thompson-Herah’s got a clear run at matching her relay gold from Glasgow 2014 with a solo success.

ADAM PEATY

England, Swimming Events: 50m & 100m breaststroke

The breaststroke maestro has won his toughest race – making the start line in Sandwell two months after a broken foot forced him out of the Worlds. The worldrecord holder insists he’s ready to hunt a hat-trick over 100m with the 17 quickest times in history under his belt. But he’s got an extra incentive to capture the 50m crown. Four years ago, he was stunned with a silver Down Under as South Africa’s Cameron van der Burgh inflicted his only defeat in the last eight years.