THE exceptional standards at this year’s Commonwealth Youth Games in India are all too obvious for Jersey’s young athletes.
For most of the squad, their experience of competing at these Games in Pune has now come to an end, with just one day of swimming left for JJ Gallichan, Tom Gallichan, Emma Glendening and Charlotte Manning. Earlier in the pool this morning the team achieved some creditable times, but none were quick enough to make a final place.
And there was further disappointment last night on the athletics field for Zane Duquemin, who had been thought by many as the team’s best medal hope in the discus. Duquemin injured himself in the first round and could throw no further than 46.29m – almost five metres away from his PB – despite reaching the final eight.
There was consolation for the Sanne Group-supported team in the performance of Jenna Murphy, who competed exceptionally well in the high jump to equal her PB of 1.65m, beating a number of highly rated athletes to finish in seventh place.
And tennis players Scott Clayton and Charlie Cohen were highly commended by the team for their efforts in the doubles. The pair were up against Indian No. 1 pairing Yuki Bhambri and Vijayant Malik in the quarter-finals, but they were unable to match them, losing 6-2, 6-1.
General team manager Paul Huddlestone said: ‘With the tennis and athletics now finished for the Jersey competitors, it just leaves the swimmers to continue competing tomorrow and it is hoped they might spring a surprise or two. Most of the team are now relaxing and watching all the other events in these fantastic venues. We just have one more day of competition for the swimmers, and then we will be looking to the closing ceremony and plans to return to Jersey on Sunday evening.’
• Picture: Injury ruined Zane Duquemin’s hopes in the Pune Youth Commonwealth discus event last night. Picture by Paul Guillou
