Wood first represented Scotland at the 1974 Commonwealths in New Zealand

Veteran bowls champion Willie Wood is set for a record eighth appearance at the Commonwealth Games after being chosen to represent Scotland in Delhi.

The 72-year-old, who will be joined in India in October by 2006 winner Paul Foster, has previously won two gold medals, one silver and one bronze.

Wood will be the oldest member of the team and first represented Scotland at the New Zealand Games in 1974.

He missed the Edinburgh event in 1986 and the Melbourne competition in 2006.

Wood's achievement in reaching his eighth Games is unmatched by any athlete in any sport.

In recognition of his contribution to lawn bowls, he was inducted into the Scottish Sport Hall of Fame in 2007.

I got beat in the final of the world singles in 1988 in New Zealand, and I said I thought it would be my last world bowls - since then, I've won three gold medals Willie Wood

"I got beat in the final of the world singles in 1988 in New Zealand and I said I thought it would be my last world bowls," said Wood recently on BBC Radio Scotland's Sports Weekly programme. "Since then, I've won three gold medals.

"I've always been fit all my life, I've never had an illness like flu and I've never smoked - so I've been a bit lucky that way."

The game of lawn bowls has not changed significantly since Wood made his first appearance for Scotland at the 1974 Games, although participants now play with individual coloured bowls instead of the traditional black.

"The coloured bowls has made the young ones more interested in coming in to the game," he added.

"It's nice to see and it's an addition that makes the sport better.

"We have coaches in place now and there's a national development officer trying to introduce players to clubs and raise the numbers in the game.

"Scots people always like to win at any sport and it's the same in bowls."

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