Double take as Table-Tennis and Badminton teams are announced
By Effective Communication
The latest teams to compete for Wales in this year’s Commonwealth Games have been announced, and it’s a case of keeping it in the family for one team.
The table-tennis squad consists of a pair of identical twins and two brothers.
Twins Angharad and Megan Phillips, from Denbigh, may have taken up playing table tennis just five years ago after receiving a table for Christmas, but their sporting success has come as no surprise. Their dad played football for Wales U19, their uncle competed for Wales in the Commonwealth Games triple jump, and their grandad competed for Great Britain in the discus.
The second set of siblings set to head to Delhi in October are brothers Ryan and Stephen Jenkins, from Pontypridd. As well as competing as an athlete. Ryan is the National table-tennis coach of Wales and, among others, coaches his brother. Combined they have been competing for more than 30 years and have picked up Commonwealth Games gold, silver and bronze medals.
Welsh Champion Charlotte Carey, British Champion Naomi Owen – silver medalist in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester – Adam Robertson, and Patrick Thomas make up the table-tennis team.
Ryan Jenkins said: “We have a really strong team this year and I am confident we can give a good performance.”
The Badminton team includes Mathew Hughes, who in his 22 year career has achieved 100 caps for his country. He also takes on the role of coach, and after competing in three Commonwealth Games and winning two Welsh Opens, will be looking to pass on this knowledge to his young protégés. These are; Caroline Harvey, from Flintshire; Welsh badminton event organiser James Phillips; Jonathan Morgan – ranked 41 in the world – National Champion Carissa Turner; Sarah Thomas, from Cardiff; and European Junior Championship silver medalist James Van Hooijdonk.
The Commonwealth Games Council for Wales also announced that squash would not be entering a team in this year’s competition.
Chris Jenkins, Director of the Commonwealth Games Council for Wales, said: “Both the table-tennis and badminton teams are made up of excellent athletes. They are all looking forward to doing their country proud and showing the world the standard of athletes that Wales produces.”
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.
Tags: Badminton, Commonwealth Games, Table Tennis, Team Wales
