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Warrender swimmers Ewan Johnston, Andrew Haslett and Sally Wood are celebrating this week after being named in the Scotland team for the Commonwealth Youth Games in India later this year.  The trio will be part of a 44 strong team that will take part in a range of sports in the city of Pune in October.  For the club to place three swimmers on the team is a great ahcievement as only 10 swimmers made the final selection after the qualification period ended earlier this month.

Pune 2008 is the first Youth Games to which all 71 Commonwealth countries have been invited to take part with 351 medals to be won across nine sports (athletics, badminton, boxing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling). Scotland will compete in eight out of nine sports (not tennis).  As a result of the global expansion of the Games, each country has been allocated a fixed number of places and qualification standards were set accordingly.  In a number of sports, including swimming, more athletes met the standards than there were places available.

Based on previous Youth Games results, it is anticipated that many of the Scottish athletes, all of whom are under 18 years of age, who compete and win medals in Pune will go on to compete for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010 and Glasgow 2014 and for Team GB in London 2012 when they should be at their competitive peak.

Making the team announcement, Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland said: “Many congratulations to the 44 athletes named today. l am confident that we have selected an outstanding Youth Games Team to compete in Pune, with the standards continuing to rise with every Games cycle.  Whilst winning medals is important, the major benefit of the Commonwealth Youth Games is exposing young athletes to this level of competition in a multi-sport environment. It is the ideal preparation event for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010 and Glasgow in 2014.”

Congratulating the team, Stewart Maxwell, Minister for Communities and Sport said: “As they fly the flag for Scotland at the Commonwealth Youth Games in India, these young athletes carry the hopes and good wishes of a nation.  Getting this far, they have each demonstrated outstanding effort, and dedication in pursuit of personal excellence.  The Commonwealth Youth Games will provide competition experience and, hopefully, a stepping stone for our young stars as they eye the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010, and on home soil, in Glasgow in 2014.  This Government has great ambitions for sport in Scotland. That’s why, through sportscotland, we are investing millions to increase participation and nurture the sporting stars of tomorrow.”

And Louise Martin CBE, Chair of sportscotland added: “This is a marvellous development opportunity for these young people to gain experience competing at a large global multi-sport event at an early age. It is fantastic to see the length and breadth of Scotland represented from Troon to Aberdeen to The Isle of Islay. I am sure their experience at the Youth Games will inspire many of them to go on to compete successfully in future senior Commonwealth and Olympic Games.”

In addition to the three swimmers, Warrender is also celebrating the selection of its Head Coach Ian Wright to the Youth Games team as Team Leader for Swimming.  Ian earned the position by Warrender placing more swimmers on the team than any other club.  Ian commented, "It's a great honour to be selected as the only swimming coach who will attend the Games for Scotland but I am more delighted for our three swimmers who made the final squad.  They put in some great performances over the summer, and it is especially rewarding for Sally and Andrew after they recovered from serious injuries during last season."