Scots target record haul in 2014 as Glasgow takes on Games baton

• An athlete competes at sunrise in the women's marathon at the Raj Path with India Gate in the background on the last day of competition in Delhi yesterday. Picture: Getty Images

And as well as looking ahead four years to when the Games return to home soil, Cavanagh looked back with pride on the achievements of the past fortnight. The team delayed their departure for India just three weeks ago when they found the athletes' village was uninhabitable and unhygienic, and even when they did arrive there were understandable fears that too many difficulties would stand in the way of acquitting themselves well.

But yesterday Cavanagh was able to point to the strong morale which helped ensure that any difficulties which remained were by and large overcome, as Scotland ended up with a medal tally of nine gold medals, ten silver and seven bronze.

"I think, after the initial difficulties we had with the village, it has gone fantastically," he said. "The one thing everybody has seen is our team spirit.

"Early on we had one or two disappointments, such as (cyclist] Ross Edgar in particular. But once the medals started coming in, we got a bit of momentum and everyone started believing, so we could deliver one above our target."

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That target, set by chef de mission Jon Doig, was for 18 to 25 medals. The late withdrawals of tennis player Elena Baltacha and gymnast Adam Cox deprived the squad of two possible medallists, but Doig did not try to use that as an opportunity to downgrade the target, remaining confident of his calculations.

"We're not going to share the formula, but Jon has got it to within one or two every time," Cavanagh said. "There are three groups - nailed-on medallists, those in the medal zone and outside chances.

"We apply a percentage to how many convert, based on previous Games.

"We said at the team announcement that it would be 18-25. That wasn't us downplaying expectations: that was based on reality.

"I think the team have performed fantastically, especially in the last week of competition. That is what has pushed us just one above that."

A precise numerical target for Glasgow 2014 may be announced far closer to the start of those Games, but Cavanagh is already happy to state the broad aim. "The preliminary prediction for 2014 is quite simple. The target is that we will have the best medal performance from a Scottish team.

"That means more than 33. We got 33 in Edinburgh in 1986, when there were only 40 countries taking part because of a boycott.

"So it's pretty challenging. It's four more than Melbourne and seven more than here."But that's the minimum target we're setting ourselves, to have the best medal performance ever. I'm pretty confident we'll do that."

These were Cavanagh's first Games as chairman of the Scottish governing body, and he will have to face re-election once before learning if he will be in office for Glasgow. But the way in which he has performed since taking up his role, particularly his handling of the village crisis, makes him a very strong favourite to remain in place.

And no matter the hassles of the run-up to these Games, he would very much like to be in charge of the CGS when the multi-sport event comes to his home city. "I've been part of seven Games," he said. "There always seems to be a slight depression towards the end, as things wind up. But not this time. It's very different.

"We're all enormously excited about the handover and all looking forward to home advantage, having seen what it's done for the Indian athletes in Delhi. The proportion of the team staying on is much higher. We have 280 athletes and staff, roughly, and only ten have gone home.

"Normally a lot ask to leave earlier. So the vast majority have stayed to be part of the handover."