Commonwealth Games team preview: Scotland
July 21st, 2014 / All
As the host nation of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Scotland will be looking to perform impressively in the boxing section of the Games in Glasgow.
After success for many of their team in recent years, their best possible line-ups have been selected to box in the Commonwealth Games, with ten Scottish boxers competing for the medals on home soil and targeting the top of the podium in Glasgow.
The Tension and the Drama
Scotland’s lone boxer in the London 2012 Olympic Games was AIBA European Olympic Qualifiers bronze medallist Josh Taylor, who has since moved up a weight class since the Games.
The talented Scot first became involved in the Scottish team in 2009 at the age of 18 following his great youth career, and he claimed a silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
Taylor defeated his teenager compatriot, Golden Gloves of Vojvodina Youth Tournament winner Samuel Ball in the national trials by split decision, so his qualification to the Games was not easy.
Now 23-years-old, the Light Welterweight class (64 kg) boxer is perhaps Scotland’s best hope to win a boxing gold in the Commonwealth Games.
Taylor will have to beat all of his opponents in front of his home crowd, where his biggest rivals will be India’s titleholder Manoj Kumar, England’s Tammer Tournament winner Samuel Maxwell, Cameroon’s Beijing 2008 Olympian veteran Babou Mahaman Smaila and Mauritius’ All Africa Games winner technician Richarno Colin.
Ones to watch in the Commonwealth Games
Reece McFadden has been involved in the Scottish national squad since 2010 as a junior boxer, and has won several national titles in different age groups.
The 19-year-old Flyweight class (52 kg) boxer will be competing in his first major international elite competition, but his skills are enough for him to succeed in the Games.
23-year-old Joseph Ham has been a continuous member of international events since 2009, and has Commonwealth Games experience, having competed in Delhi 2010.
Scott Forrest became known in the world of boxing when he claimed a silver medal at the AIBA Youth World Championships in Yerevan, Armenia 18 months ago.
The 20-year-old Light Heavyweight class (81 kg) boxer has undoubted talent, and could be a dark horse for gold in Glasgow.
Scottish facts at the Commonwealth Games
Following the Scottish National Championships, the selected team began preparations with the Australians before the Games, and have been in several training camps to ensure peak condition.
Other representatives for Scotland in Glasgow will be the Light Flyweight class (49 kg) boxer Aqeel Ahmed, Charlie Flynn (60 kg), Lewis Benson (69 kg), 21-year-old Kieran Smith (75 kg) who defeated Aston Brown in the selection event, Stephen Lavelle (91 kg) and veteran Ross Henderson (+91 kg).
Scotland’s history in the event
Scotland competed in the first Commonwealth Games in Hamilton, Canada in 1930 where James Rolland (61.2 kg) claimed a gold medal.
The Commonwealth Games was hosted in Edinburgh in 1970, where Tom Imrie reached the top of the podium, while the event returned to the same historical city in 1986.
Scotland’s national team competed in the last edition of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, where their squad won one of each medal.
Callum Johnson became a champion in India, with Josh Taylor runner-up, while Stephen Simmons claimed a bronze medal in the Games.
