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Page last updated at 10:13 GMT, Thursday, 17 June 2010 11:13 UK

Jason Smyth among 19 new inclusions in NI Delhi squad

Jason Smyth
Jason Smyth broke the NI 100m record at Antrim last weekend

Jason Smyth and Ciara Mageean are among the latest batch of 19 competitors added to the Northern Ireland team for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Kelly McNeice will join her fellow two track and field athletes in India.

Bangor squash player Zoe Barr has been picked to play doubles with Madeline Perry while Seriena Johnrose has been added to the gymnastics squad.

Connor McConvey, Heather Wilson and Philip Lavery have also been added to the cycling squad.

Shooters Gary Duff, Matthew Hall, Louise Aiken and Robert Doak have all been picked for the Delhi Games while badminton will be represented by Sinead Chambers, Matthew Gleave, Emma Callow and Tony Stephenson.

Table Tennis will also be represented at the Delhi Games by Na Liu, Amanda Mogey and Claire Nelson.

Sprinter Smyth is selected after setting a new Northern Ireland 100 metres record of 10.32 last weekend.

Smyth's new Northern Ireland mark was .02secs outside the Delhi standard but the selectors have made the decision to pick the Eglinton man.

The 22-year-old spoke of his delight at being included in the team.

"It is an honour to be getting the opportunity to compete for Northern Ireland at such a major event," said Smyth.

"It takes a lot of the pressure off now that I have been selected this early as it was a competition I had always targeted to do.

"Now I can focus on running faster and being best prepared for the games."

Matthew Hall
Matthew Hall is one of four shooters added to the NI team

Mageean is picked for the 800m after achieving the Delhi standard when finishing second in last year's World Youth Championships.

McNeice, who competed at the 2002 Games in Manchester, achieved the 1500m standard when she broke Amanda Crowe's Northern Ireland record last summer.

Gymnast Johnrose, who trains at the Garstan School, returned to action 18 months ago after being out of the sport for over three years because of a knee injury.

Cyclist McConvey competes for the Sean Kelly Professional team and showed good form in finishing fourth at the recent FBD Insurance Ras Tailteann.

Heather Wilson, who previously competed in the Games as a triathlete, will also be in action in Delhi after setting Irish and Northern Ireland individual time trial records.

Lavery's Tour of the North win and Tour of Ulster stage victories helped secure his selection for the road race in India.

1996 Olympian Gary will be in action in the 50 metre rifle event after competing at the Manchester Games while youngster Matthew Hall will also be in the same event.

Louise Aiken is picked for the women's 50m event while Doak, another shoot who participated in Manchester, will compete in the air pistol event.

Young badminton quartet Chamber, Gleave, Callow and Stephenson should gain huge experience at the Games.

"To represent Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games will be the proudest moment of my sporting career to date," said Gleave.

"Having worked extremely hard to reach the Games I can't wait to get to India and compete against some of the best badminton players in the world from countries such as Malaysia and Singapore."



see also
Twelve more named for Games team
26 May 10 |  Northern Ireland
NI selects initial Delhi hopefuls
12 May 10 |  Northern Ireland
England get Delhi Games go-ahead
28 Apr 10 |  England
Beattie takes silver in shooting
22 Mar 06 |  Commonwealth Games
Calvert misses medal in Melbourne
23 Mar 06 |  Commonwealth Games


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