There are three plausible reasons why I’m doing a joint preview of boxing and lawn bowls.
The first is that I noticed – when looking at past Games – that these two sports are the two in which Northern Ireland has most regularly won medals and I thought that was an interesting fact.
The second is the fact that both sports are amongst the 7 sports contested at the first Commonwealth Games in 1930 (then known as the British Empire Games). Indeed, boxing is an ever present and bowls has missed only one edition of the Games (1966).
The final reason is that both sports begin with the letter ‘B’.
I’ll let you decide which is most likely reader. Ahem.
Anyway, joking aside, the first of those facts is absolutely true and, especially in the case of boxing, I would expect that to continue here. Northern Ireland has a fabulous boxing pedigree and enters the Games with several realistic gold medal chances, not least of which are the brother and sister combination of Aidan and Michela Walsh. Elsewhere, expect India to be strong contenders for overall topping of the boxing medal table.
And so onto bowls. As well as Northern Ireland’s previously mentioned strong history here, this sport also has often favoured some of the smaller nations at the Games. Jersey have medalled in previous games and just 4 years ago Malta, the Cook Islands and Norfolk Island all came away with a bronze. Expect the unexpected in bowls! That being said, Australia enter as favourites to win a bucket load of medals.
A day off from predictions tomorrow, before Judo and Athletics on Monday, with Diving and Wrestling following later in the week as we get closer to the start of those sports’ programme.
Ian's World Of Sports 