The key contenders

Published on Sunday 21 July 2002 01:00

Aquatics

Venue: Manchester Aquatics Stadium

Swimming

Expect Australia to dominate. Ian Thorpe has a chance of seven gold medals, Grant Hackett should retain his 1500m freestyle title. Petria Thomas is going for a historic third consecutive gold in the 100m butterfly. Canada could spring surprises with its youngsters. Reigning 200m butterfly champion James Hickman leads England’s assault.

Diving

Bet on Canada for the top honours, as their powerful team has 10-metre star Alexandre Despatie, youngest-ever winner of Commonwealth gold at the age of 13 in Kuala Lumpur, and world one-metre champion Blythe Hartley.

Synchro Swimming

Canada have won all eight previous golds and should scoop the pair again.

Athletics

Venues: City of Manchester Stadium, Sportcity; City Centre (for marathon).

Much denuded of superstar athletes, the lack of strong competition means England have an outstanding chance of finishing top in the track and field medals table.

Sprinters Darren Campbell, Dwain Chambers and Mark Lewis-Francis; Paula Radcliffe (left, 5000m); Kelly Holmes (800m and 1500m); Jonathan Edwards (triple jump) and Steve Backley (javelin) are all in form, while the English men’s relay teams are hot favourites. Kenya may well take all the distance events, however.

Australia’s Dimitri Markov (pole vault), Benita Willis (5000m) Bronwyn Eagles (hammer) and the evergreen Welshman Colin Jackson (110m hurdles) are other gold medal contenders.

Badminton

Venue: Bolton Arena

England should be the top medal winners, and Jo Goode has a strong chance of adding to her five gold medals gained in ’94 and ’98. Canada’s Denyse Julien will be making a badminton record sixth appearance at the Games at the age of 42.

Australia’s strength lies in its doubles teams, while Malaysia will be hoping to recapture form.

Boxing

Venues: Forum Centre, Wythenshawe, MEN Arena.

Always a big attraction at the Games, England’s home advantage is a major boost to its 12-strong team, the largest of any competing nation. Light-heavyweight Courtney Fry is their best bet for a medal. Canada and Kenya have several medal chances, as does Scotland’s eight-strong team.

Bowls

Venue: Heaton Park

All the home nations have players capable of winning gold in a sport they traditionally dominate, but New Zealand and the surprise team of 1998, South Africa, will have medal chances. Australia’s Karen Murphy is their best known competitor, due to her model looks, but unlike tennis counterpart Anna Kournikova, Murphy is a genuine contender for gold.

Cycling

Venue: National Cycling Centre, Sportcity; Rivington (for road races)

A sport that was once the virtual preserve of Australia at the Games is now much more open.

Riding in their home venue, the track team of England look very strong, though Australia are confident and the Scots could upset them. Canada’s mountain bikers fancy their chances, while South Africa have a strong road team.

British champion Nicole Cook of Wales is favourite for the women’s road race.

Gymnastics

Venue: GMEX Centre

Normally it is either Canada or Australia first, and the rest nowhere, but England have a strong all-round men’s team and could easily take the team medals.

Beth Tweddle of England is the new sensation of British gymnastics, but Alexandra Croak of Australia will push her hard in the women’s events.

Hockey

Venue: Belle Vue Centre

Australia are without Alyson Annan, the best player in the world, but striker Katrina Powell should still lead her side to victory in the women’s event, though England went down 1-0 to Australia in the men’s World Cup and are looking for revenge.

They may well get it.

Judo

Venue: GMEX Centre

Back in the Games after 12 years at the insistence of the English Games organisers, it is no surprise that England are hot favourites to leave the mat with most medals: they also won 12 of the 14 golds back in 1990.

Double Olympic medallist Nicolas Gill of Montreal will lead the highly experienced Canadian judo team, while Scotland has a chance of winning several medals, especially with Graeme Randall.

Netball

Venue: MEN Arena

Making its second appearance in the Games, Australia will go all out to defend their title, with only New Zealand able to challenge judging by the Aussies’ massive defeat of third favourites England a few months ago.

Rugby 7s

Venue: City of Manchester Stadium

Will be a sell-out on its second appearance. The World Series has created new stars and nations, though Scotland aren’t among them. It’s hard to see past defending champions New Zealand, though England’s rugby league-influenced side, 7s specialists Fiji, plus powerful South African and Australian teams should make this a memorable event.

Shooting

Venue: National Shooting Centre, Bisley

Specifically exempted from the post-Dunblane handgun ban legislation brought in by the Government, England should dominate this multi-discipline sport, with pistol shooter Michael Gault hoping to add to his tally of five gold medals. Canada’s Sharon Bowes won two golds and two silvers in 1998 and is fancied to better that haul. Based in Bisley, 250 miles from Manchester.

Squash

Venue: National Squash Centre, Sportcity

England’s medal chances are strong, with ex-Scot Peter Nicol seeded No.1 in the men’s singles. World No.1 Sarah Fitzgerald of Australia is unbeaten in 51 matches since August and is equally fancied for the women’s title.

Table Tennis

Venue: Indoor Tennis Centre

Making its debut in the Commonwealth Games, table tennis has come a long way from its ping pong days. England’s Matthew Syed (above), India’s Chetan Baboor, Canada’s Johnny Huang and Duan Yong Jun of Singapore are the favourites in the men’s competition, while Lijuan Geng born in China, and a member of the Brazilian professional circuit leads the Canadian women’s team.

Triathlon

Venue: Salford Quays

Another Games debutant and the biggest event in the sport following the magnificent triathlons at the Sydney Olympics. The men’s event will feature epic contest between Olympic champion Simon Whitfield, Australian Peter Robinson and England’s multiple world champion Simon Lessing. Australian women Nicole Hackett and Loretta Harrop will face a real challenge from England’s Jodie Swallow.

Weightlifting

Venue: Manchester International Convention Centre.

A sport in which women will compete for the first time at the Games. Australia are the leading medal winners but the home nations and India have good records. Expect Canada and Australia to dominate the women’s event.

Wrestling

Venue: GMEX Centre

The wrestlers were miffed at their exclusion from the ’98 Games, and it was surprising to see it return as it’s not England’s strongest suit. Canada cannot match their ’94 success - nine golds and a silver in ten events - as they have only seven in the team, but they will be the top nation. They include Olympic and World Champion Daniel Igali, who will carry the Maple Leaf flag at the opening ceremony, and world champion Guivi Sissaouri.