LONDON: England will be battling to hold on to second place in the medals table when they head to the Commonwealth Games missing a clutch of top names regarded as certainties to strike gold.
England have finished runners-up in the medal rankings at the last three games, but are bracing for a stern challenge from Canada and hosts India at this year's multi-sport extravaganza in Delhi.
While the English will travel with one of their largest ever teams -- 371 competitors spread across 17 sports -- the English contingent will be weakened by several notable absentees.
Heading the list of athletes missing in action is World and European hepathlon champion Jessica Ennis, who is skipping the event to avoid disruption of her winter training schedule.
The 24-year-old is joined on the missing list by distance Mo Farah, the reigning 5,000 and 10,000 metres European champion, who has withdrawn citing fatigue after a gruelling season, and cyclist Victoria Pendleton.
While a clutch of Olympic and world champions will be in Delhi, including Rebecca Adlington, Gemma Spofforth (swimming), and Tom Daley (diving), team officials are declining to set a medals target.
England chef de mission Craig Hunter has warned the team face a testing fortnight in India.
"This will be a very challenging Games for us," said Hunter, who has identified India and Canada as the likeliest threats to English hopes of finishing second in the medal table once more.
"Certainly, India will be very strong in a number of events that proffer gold medals and have a home-based advantage.
"Canada is a nation we've always fought second and third spot for. They're looking like they're investing a lot of money and effort into their sport.
Despite the cautious tone over their prospects in Delhi, English officials are planning an all-out assault on the 2014 Games to be held in Glasgow.
"Our aspiration for 2014 is to top the medal table in Glasgow," said Hunter, who has expressed sympathy with track and field athletes such as Ennis who have chosen not to compete in India.
"For track and field, it's been a long season, and there are other clashes on the international programme," he said.
"They have to prioritise and, while this is an amazingly important event, it is also the road into London for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 - a unique opportunity for our athletes.
"We recognise that there are pulls on people's time and perhaps some of them decided that this isn't appropriate for their preparation."
In team sports, England's women hockey players will be looking to build on their strong showings at the World Cup and Champions Trophy earlier this year, when they both struck bronze.
Although they face stiff competition from defending champions Australia, South Africa and India, the English women have avoided their rivals in the group stage and will be confident of reaching the gold medal match.
"We believe. We've not had that much belief before - it takes results to give you that. It's been building and now we're going into the Commonwealth Games with that belief," captain Kate Walsh said.
TOI
England have finished runners-up in the medal rankings at the last three games, but are bracing for a stern challenge from Canada and hosts India at this year's multi-sport extravaganza in Delhi.
While the English will travel with one of their largest ever teams -- 371 competitors spread across 17 sports -- the English contingent will be weakened by several notable absentees.
Heading the list of athletes missing in action is World and European hepathlon champion Jessica Ennis, who is skipping the event to avoid disruption of her winter training schedule.
The 24-year-old is joined on the missing list by distance Mo Farah, the reigning 5,000 and 10,000 metres European champion, who has withdrawn citing fatigue after a gruelling season, and cyclist Victoria Pendleton.
While a clutch of Olympic and world champions will be in Delhi, including Rebecca Adlington, Gemma Spofforth (swimming), and Tom Daley (diving), team officials are declining to set a medals target.
England chef de mission Craig Hunter has warned the team face a testing fortnight in India.
"This will be a very challenging Games for us," said Hunter, who has identified India and Canada as the likeliest threats to English hopes of finishing second in the medal table once more.
"Certainly, India will be very strong in a number of events that proffer gold medals and have a home-based advantage.
"Canada is a nation we've always fought second and third spot for. They're looking like they're investing a lot of money and effort into their sport.
Despite the cautious tone over their prospects in Delhi, English officials are planning an all-out assault on the 2014 Games to be held in Glasgow.
"Our aspiration for 2014 is to top the medal table in Glasgow," said Hunter, who has expressed sympathy with track and field athletes such as Ennis who have chosen not to compete in India.
"For track and field, it's been a long season, and there are other clashes on the international programme," he said.
"They have to prioritise and, while this is an amazingly important event, it is also the road into London for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 - a unique opportunity for our athletes.
"We recognise that there are pulls on people's time and perhaps some of them decided that this isn't appropriate for their preparation."
In team sports, England's women hockey players will be looking to build on their strong showings at the World Cup and Champions Trophy earlier this year, when they both struck bronze.
Although they face stiff competition from defending champions Australia, South Africa and India, the English women have avoided their rivals in the group stage and will be confident of reaching the gold medal match.
"We believe. We've not had that much belief before - it takes results to give you that. It's been building and now we're going into the Commonwealth Games with that belief," captain Kate Walsh said.
TOI
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