England team chiefs have set their sights on topping the Commonwealth Games medal table despite Dina Asher-Smith yesterday delivered a major setback to the team by pulling out injured.
Mark England, the chef de mission, delivered his bold ambition for the host country to secure the biggest haul for an eighth time in the history of the event since 1930. “That is what we are here for and it is our aspiration to top the medal table,” he said on the eve of the Games’ curtain-raiser in Birmingham.
Asher-Smith, who came third in the 200 metres at the Games on the Gold Coast four years ago, has pulled out with what she described as a “light hamstring strain”. She suffered the injury while competing for Great Britain in the women’s 4x100m relay final at the World Championships on Saturday.
“I feel good but I am in need of a few days off,” she wrote on Instagram, expressing hope she could compete in the European Championships, which begin on Aug 15.
England last topped the table in 2014, and, team chief England said he saw Australia as the main rival.
“It will be a pretty good arm wrestle with Australia,” he said.
“Everybody wants to come to the host nation and do the best they can against them. But we have got 430 athletes who absolutely want to top the medal table. We have 500 support staff who want to top the medal table and my aspiration is that we are top of the medals table.
“We have a nation that wants us to do that as well so we are going to give it everything.”
Adam Peaty and Laura Kenny ensure there will be no shortage of star power in England’s team, even in the absence of Asher-Smith. Jack Laugher, the three-time Olympic medallist diver, is sharing flag-bearing duties tonight with weightlifter Emily Campbell, who secured silver in Tokyo last year.
Athletes representing all 72 Commonwealth Games Federations are expected to march in the opening ceremony at the Alexander Stadium.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson last night described the event as “Birmingham’s time to shine” following a £778 million public investment in the Games. With a total of £594 million provided by central Government, Birmingham 2022 is the most significant investment in sport since London 2012.
The Prince of Wales – accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall – will represent the Queen and officially open the Games.
“Not only will we be celebrating sporting success, we will be strengthening the crucial ties between our 72 nations and territories – bringing businesses and governments from across the world together to encourage trade and boost economic growth that will leave a lasting legacy for years to come,” Johnson said.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries added: “We have an incredible 11 days of sport and I know fans from across the home nations will get right behind our athletes. Beyond the medals won and records broken, these Games will deliver a fantastic legacy – sporting, cultural and economic – for the people of Birmingham and the West Midlands.”