2018 Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games: Brandon Starc emerges from brother's shadow with high jump gold

While Mitchell was dismantling Test batting lineups around the world, and his namesake was warging into wolves and giants beyond the Wall, Brandon Starc was plugging away in track and field, claiming an eighth place here (Glasgow 2014), or a 15th place there (Rio 2016 Olympics) in international high jump.

But now, after an immaculate showing in front of a riveted home crowd, Starc claimed gold with a personal best jump of 2.32 metres — his first medal, let alone a gold, in a senior athletics meet.

Emotional day for PNG

It was an emotional day for PNG yesterday when Steven Kari not only successfully defended his Commonwealth Games title in the men’s 94 kilograms weightlifting event, but he also smashed the 17-year-old clean and jerk Commonwealth record.

“It’s a great moment for Steven and also for Team PNG,” said Team PNG Chef de Mission, Tamzin Wardley.

“We watched the sheer joy from Steven and the friends and family who were there.

Lack of athletes creating Games’ most awkward dilemma

Thornhill was the victim of an uncomfortable dilemma Games officials have been wrestling with when she took out the gold medal in the women’s blind and visually impaired sprint at the Anna Meares Velodrome.

The 22-year-old and pilot Helen Scott conquered Aussie Jessica Gallagher and pilot Madison Janssen in the final, winning the first two races in their best of three showdown.

The problem is Gallagher and Janssen were nowhere to be seen when the medal presentation ceremony was conducted on Thursday night.

Commonwealth Games: 11-year-old Welsh table tennis sensation Anna Hursey drawing crowds

She's the youngest athlete at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and it is believed she is the youngest athlete to represent Wales at senior level in any sport.

And while the dream for medals in the teams event is over after a quarter-final loss to Australia, Hursey is still gearing up for a shot at the singles starting April 10.

In her home country, she's a household name. In Australia, we're only just discovering this table tennis savant. But already, Hursey is drawing a crowd of international admirers.

Hope for Team PNG

It began slowly but ended with a silver medal win courtesy of Morea Baru’s outstanding performance in the men’s 62kg weightlifting competition.

Another highlight of the day was the impressive win by boxer, Thadius Katua, in the preliminary rounds of the men’s 60kg division. Katua outscored his Nigerian opponent with classy footwork and super-fast punches which saw him through to the next round.

Countdown to Commonwealth games

More than 6,600 athletes and officials from 70 Commonwealth nations and territories will take part in 11 days of competition from 4th to 15th of April 2018.

Team PNG, consisting of 56 athletes and 32 officials, including the General Management Team, has arrived in Gold Coast and are gearing up for the event.

They will participate in 10 of the 23 sports offered during the Games.

The 10 sports are; Athletics (para-athletics), boxing, lawn bowls, rugby 7s, shooting, squash, swimming, table tennis (para-table tennis), triathlon and weightlifting.

US company to produce 2018 Commonwealth Games ceremonies

The organisers said the Boston-based business Jack Morton was contracted after a worldwide selection process.

Committee spokesman Marcus Hill said the company had been operating in Australia for decades and was best-suited for the job.

"They actually have range previous experiences have previously done the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow," he said.