Jamaica picked quality squad for Commonwealth Games: Fennell

Kingston (Jamaica), July 5 (IANS/CMC) Jamaica Olympic Association president Michael Fennell said the country has managed to uphold its high standards in the selection of the 114-member contingent for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The long-serving administrator said despite several challenges, they had chosen the best quality field available for the July 23 to Aug 3 showpiece for the Scottish city, reports CMC.

"We have never been represented at the Games in such a large number of sports. It comes at a time when we are struggling for a number of things, but we have ensured that we have not compromised our standards in making the team the highest possible standards in all of the sports," Fennell told media.

"It is not just a matter of numbers, we have quality and we are very proud of all the athletes who have been selected, and we will give them all the support that is necessary."

The contingent is headlined by World and Olympic double sprint champion Usain Bolt who last week indicated his willingness to participate in the relay at the Games.

Bolt is yet to debut on the international circuit this year because of injury, and had already cancelled several appearances in the IAAF World Challenge and Diamond League. With his selection, the 27-year-old is now poised to make his Commonwealth Games debut.

He will be joined by women's World and Olympic 100 metres champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce who has also been selected to run the sprint relay only. She too has struggled with form in recent weeks and has withdrawn from a couple of international events.

Former World and Olympic sprint champion, Veronica Campbell-Brown, has been included in the contingent to complete a fairy-tale turnaround in her career this year. Cleared of doping charges, she recently crowned herself national sprint champion to signal the start of her comeback.

Jamaica will be represented in 11 of the 17 sports at the Commonwealth Games. As expected, their biggest entry will come in track and field where they will field 67 athletes.

--IANS/CMC

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