The Commonwealth Games (CWG) is returning, this time in Birmingham, from July 28 to August 9. But this edition will be different from the rest. The quadrennial event that opens on Thursday will be the first multi-sport international meet to host more medals for women than for men and is running in tandem with its largest ever para-sport programme.
There will be 136 gold medals awarded to the female athletes, 134 on offer for men, and 10 in mixed events when the 11-day event is staged in England for the third time.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce could be lining up for one of them, weeks after she won the 100 meters at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon. The 35-year-old Jamaican is a five-time world champion in the 100m and three-time Olympic gold medallist. but she has never won an individual gold medal at the CWG.
Fraser-Pryce led a medal sweep for Jamaica in the 100m at the world championships ahead of Shericka Jackson and Elaine Thompson-Herah. She finished second to Jackson in the 200m, with Dina Asher-Smith of Britain taking bronze to prevent a back-to-back sprint sweep for Jamaica.
After finishing off with a silver medal in the women's 4x100 relay for Jamaica, Fraser-Pryce posted a message to fans on Facebook, “See you at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham!”
Big blow to India
But the Indian contingent face a setback on the eve of the Games when Olympic javelin champion Neeraj Chopra withdrew from the team after doctors recommended he focus on rehabilitation for the groin injury he sustained on the way to a silver at the world championships on July 24.
“Needless to say, I am hurt about not being able to defend my title and missing out on another opportunity to represent the nation,” Chopra said in a statement posted on Twitter. “I am especially disappointed about losing out on the opportunity to be Team India's flag bearer at the opening ceremony, an honour I was looking forward to."
The return of cricket
A major highlight will be the re-entry of cricket, this time for the women's teams and in the T20I format. World Cup champions Australia will be looking to continue their recent dominance.
The Australians are weighing up whether they'll march in the opening ceremony, which is the night before their big opening match against India. The opening ceremony concludes at 10.30 p.m. and their first match Friday starts at 11 a.m., with a significant crowd expected at Edgbaston.
