David Davies calimed gold in Melbourne four years ago

David Davies and Jazz Carlin will spearhead Wales' swimming challenge at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India.

Davies will be defending the 1500m freestyle title, and hoping to add to the 400m freestyle bronze he won four years ago in Melbourne.

Carlin has set her sights on becoming the first Welsh woman to win a medal in a Commonwealth Games pool since 1974.

Paralympic medallist David Roberts and Olympian Tom Haffield will also be looking for podium places in Delhi.

The pool team won three medals at the last Games, and performance manager Martyn Woodroffe said he expects to improve on that total in India.

"This is Wales' strongest ever swim team to be fielded at a Commonwealth Games," he said.

"As we are able to call on Olympic and Paralympic medallists, we are in a strong position. As well as experienced swimmers, we also have names to note for the future.

"The team is certainly the most professional group of swimmers and staff I have worked with - all of whom are setting extremely high standards and targets."

Davies has struggled to find his best form in the pool since moving his training base from Cardiff to Loughborough in 2007.

But the Barry-born swimmer has since returned to the Welsh capital and says a gold medal for Wales will be the perfect launch-pad as he turns his attention to the 2012 London Olympic Games.

"It's the big target for me this year and I'm looking forward to defending my title," said the double Olympic medallist.

"It's certainly going to be tough and Canada's Ryan Cochrane will be the one to watch. It's a pretty special feeling to represent Wales and there's nothing quite like the Commonwealth Games.

"The team spirit within the Welsh camp in Melbourne was really motivating."

Carlin, on the other hand, has enjoyed a hugely successful 18 months. The 19-year-old won bronze at the 2009 World Championships as part of Great Britain's 4x200m freestyle team, and beat world championship silver medallist Jackson and double Olympic champion Adlington in a Great Britain versus Germany international in February.

"They're both girls I know well and they'll be there for England in six weeks time," says Carlin, who competed for Wales while still at school four years ago.

"We've won relay medals at the Europeans and Worlds together but now we're on different teams."

At 15-year-old, Sian Morgan is the youngest member of the team and will be among nine members of the team making their Commonwealth debuts.

Team Wales chef de mission, Chris Jenkins, said: "We are very excited to welcome on board our swimmers - we have a great mix of youth and experience and we are confident that this is a high calibre team.

"We envisage that Team Wales will send almost 200 athletes to Delhi with further announcements due to be made for tennis and rugby sevens."

Team Wales' Commonwealth Games swimming squad:

David Davies
From: Barry
Date of birth: 03/03/85
Event: 400m and 1500m Freestyle

Thomas Haffield
From: Neath
Date of birth: 28/01/88
Event: 400m individual medley

Robert Holderness
From: Somerset
Date of birth: 29/06/90
Event: 50m Breaststroke

Ieuan Lloyd
From: Penarth
Date of birth: 09/07/93
Event: 200m Individual Medley

Marco Loughran
From: London
Date of birth: 24/03/89
Event: 100m and 200m Backstroke

Georgia Davies
From: Swansea
Date of birth: 11/10/90
Event: 50m & 100m Backstroke

David Roberts
From: Pontypridd
Date of birth: 20/02/80
Event: S8 100m Freestyle

Jazmin Carlin
From: Swindon, lives in Swansea
Date of birth: 17/09/90
Event: 200m, 400m and 800m Freestyle

Georgia Holderness
From: Somerset
Date of birth: 26/10/87
Event: 50m & 100m Freestyle, 50m, 100m & 200m Breaststroke

Sara Lougher
From: Bridgend
Date of birth: 22/03/94
Event: 50m, 100m & 200m Breaststroke

Jemma Lowe
From: Hartlepool
Date of birth: 31/03/90
Event: 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly

Sian Morgan
From: West Yorkshire
Date of birth: 05/12/94
Event: 50m, 100m & 400m Freestyle, 100m Butterfly, 200m & 400m Individual Medley

Jennifer Oldham
From: Lincoln, lives in Swansea
Date of birth: 15/07/90
Event: 50m Backstroke

Danielle Stirrat
From: Pontyclun
Date of birth: 22/05/93
Event: 200m & 400m Freestyle

Alys Thomas
From: Swansea
Date of birth: 10/10/90
Event: 200m Butterfly

Lowri Tynan
From: Wrexham
Date of birth: 13/10/87
Event: 50m Breaststroke

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