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Last Updated: Tuesday, 28 February 2006, 08:37 GMT
Ones to watch - Wales
Michaela BreezeLeanda CaveNicole CookeDavid DaviesTanni Grey ThompsonChristian MalcolmMohammad NasirRobert WealeNews image

Wales arrive in Melbourne looking to build on their success of four years ago when they came away with 33 medals, of which six were gold.

Four years on, they boast an array of chances for further gold. BBC Sport picks out eight of their stars to watch.

Michaela Breeze
MICHAELA BREEZE
Weightlifting

Breeze will be among the medal favourites in the 58kg class even though she has only just recovered from knee surgery.

The 26-year-old won gold in the snatch and silver in the clean and jerk and combined at the 2002 Games.

But a new rule change, where only the overall score now counts, means Breeze has only one shot of gold in Australia.

This will not faze Breeze who is ranked fourth in the world for combined score behind a trio of athletes who are not eligible for the Commonwealths.

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Leanda Cave
LEANDA CAVE
Triathlon

Cave has battled her way back to form after an accident at the end of 2004 left her with two broken arms, a broken jaw and elbow.

The 27-year-old's determination saw her claim fourth at the 2005 ITU Salford World Cup and second at the London Home Nations Cup.

Now, Cave goes to Melbourne intent on turning the Commonwealth silver she won in Manchester into gold.

But she will face tough competition from Olympic champion Kate Allen, from Austria, and Australia's Loretta Harrop, who took silver in Athens.

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Rebecca Cooke
NICOLE COOKE
Cycling

Cooke will be favourite to win a second Commonwealth road race crown in Melbourne - if she can recover from a broken collarbone.

The 22-year-old suffered a nasty fall in Manchester last December but is confident she can return to peak form in time.

Cooke will want to put her Olympic disappointment behind her where she finished fifth after clipping a barrier late in the Athens race.

But her class in undeniable - she became the youngest winner of the World Cup series in 2003 and won the female Tour de France and Giro d'Italia a year later.

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David Davies
DAVID DAVIES
Swimming

Melbourne represents a real chance for Davies to turn Olympic and World 1500m freestyle bronze into gold.

Supreme Australian Grant Hackett sits out the Games with a shoulder injury while American Larsen Jenson is ineligible, leaving the door open for Davies.

Davies is ranked third in the world over 1500m and could also double up by contesting the 400m free.

Davies celebrates his 21st birthday in Australia and has already warned his rivals he is "older and wiser" when it comes to race tactics.

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Tanni Grey Thompson
TANNI GREY THOMPSON
Athletics

Dame Tanni Grey Thompson heads to the Commonwealth Games with a new role as captain of the Wales team.

The 11-time Paralympic gold medallist is already looking forward to soaking up both personal and team pressure.

Thompson competes in the wheelchair 800m but will once again be racing above her usual T53 class which means a medal is much less of a certainty.

The 36-year-old finished fourth in 2002 but will want to do better in Australia as she has hinted she could retire after the Games.

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Christian Malcolm
CHRISTIAN MALCOLM
Athletics

Sprint specialist Malcolm spearheads Welsh medal hopes on the track after 400m runner Tim Benjamin's withdrawal.

The 26-year-old goes in the 100m and 200m, where he will aim to recapture the form that saw him take silver in 1998.

Now fully fit, Malcolm will want to improve on his semi-final spot at last year's World Championships.

Expect to see plenty of Malcolm in Melbourne as he is also on standby for the 4x400m squad.

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Mohammad Nasir
MOHAMMED NASIR
Boxing

Nasir has already been labelled the next Amir Khan, and the Melbourne Games present him with his first chance to shine on the international stage.

The 19-year-old light flyweight proved he is on his way to world class by winning two belts at the Tammer Cup in Finland.

Nasir also tuned up for the Commonwealths by winning gold in the 58kg class at February's Four Nations Senior Championships.

The Newport fighter has been boxing at St Joseph's club since he was 10 after being inspired by former world champion Prince Naseem Hamed.

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Robert Weale
ROBERT WEALE
Bowls

Part of the Wales squad since 1982, Weale goes to Melbourne still searching for his first Commonwealth singles title.

The 42-year-old has won a medal of every colour from four Games but wants to win a dream individual gold.

Weale showed he is good form as he is 2005 he became the only man to hold both the Welsh outdoor and indoor titles simultaneously.

The Hereford-based competitor, who claimed the world indoor singles title four years ago, heads a strong Wales bowls team who will be expected to do well.

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Links to more Commonwealth Games stories


 


SEE ALSO
Ones to watch - England
28 Feb 06 |  Commonwealth Games
Ones to watch - Scotland
28 Feb 06 |  Commonwealth Games
Ones to watch - N Ireland
28 Feb 06 |  Commonwealth Games
Eight to watch - International
28 Feb 06 |  Commonwealth Games


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