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An event as big as the Commonwealth Games always attracts the highest quality talent from different parts of the world. This years edition in Glasgow is no different a galaxy of stars is set to descend on the field in the coming two weeks, as the sporting world watches with feverish excitement.Heres a look at the top 10 legends who will be participating in the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
#1 Sally Pearson Athletics
One of the greatesactive Australian Olympians, Sally Pearson is the 5th fastest 100m hurdler in history.
At the 2012 London Olympics she won a gold medal by smashing the Olympic record, becoming the 10th female Australian track athlete to do that.
At the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, Pearson was disqualified in the final of the 100m but then bounced back to claim the 110m hurdles title.
However, Pearson is all set for a strong comeback and has warned Englnd that Australia is going to make a terrific comeback in CWG 2014 Glasgow.
#2 Paula Griffin Netball
Paula Griffin is one of the rising netball stars from New Zealand. In September 2006 she Joined Silver Ferns Squad and soon in a year’s time she was called for the silver ferns tour of England in the year 2007.
She is the 2nd youngest player in the squad and also has captained the NZ u 21 team. She contributed a lot in making her team win the second position in the year 2009 at world youth netball championships.
She was also an active player in the Common Wealth NZ netball team in Delhi in the year 2010 and helped her team defend their place as Gold medalists
#3 Krishna Poona Discus Throw
India’s star discus thrower Krishna Poonia has been in the international circuit since the year 2004. She has achieved many laurels for the country in last 10 years and is now all set to make country proud one more time.
Poonia recovered had suffered a groin injury which kept her low for most of last year. However, she is now completely fit and geared up to defend the gold she won at 2010 Delhi CWG.
The fight between ace discus thrower Dani Samuels and Poonia will be worth watching. Samuels challenged Poonia after 2010 CWG for a winner-take-it-all 1 on 1 competition at a mutually agreed venue. While that never happened, 2014 would be the best platform to ascertain who is the best.
#4 Mo Farah Athletics
British international track and field athlete Mo Farah is the current 10000m Olympic and world champion.
While Farah had been suffering from an abdominal problem leading up to the event, he is now fit and fine for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014 and is aiming for a double gold.
He has been given the green light for training and will run 5000m and 10000m at CWG.
Farah had also won Britain’s first ever men’s European gold medal in 5000m.
Voted as European Athlete of the Year in 2011, Farah has won various accolades for his country in the field of athletics and is a certified legend.
#5 Abhnav Bindra 10m Air Rifle
World and olympic champion in the 10m Air Rifle event, Abhinav Bindra would be looking to grab a gold in Glasgow. In 2010, he paired with another ace shooter Gagan Narang – the two shot in unison to set a games record 1193 in 10m air rifle pair event for men to win their first gold for India.
Bindra, a Beijing Olympics gold medalist, also won two gold medals recently at the inter shoot Tri series shooting held at The Hague, Netherlands. He also won gold in men’s 10m at the 12th Asian Shooting Championships which were help in Doha Qatar in 2012.
With a list of achievements as glittering as that, Bindra is certainly one of the biggest stars at this year’s Games.
#6 Bradley Wiggins Cycling
Popularly known as ‘Wiggo’ British professional road and track cyclist Bradley Wiggins rides for UCI ProTeam Team Sky. He skipped the Tour de France in order to prepare for CWG 2014.
Wiggo has won four Olympic gold medals in road and track competition and he created history by becoming the first Briton to win the Tour de France in the year 2012.
Along with Glasgow CWG, he is keeping his one eye on Olympics 2016.
This superstar in the world of cycling is surely among the frontrunners to help England in their pursuit of gold in Glasgow.
#7 Usian Bolt Athletics
Six-time Olympic champion and one of the greatest athletes of all time, Usain Bolt will represent the Jamaican team at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Bolt has made himself available only for the 4x100m relay event though; since he missed the selection meeting – the Jamaican Championships – which served as the qualification ground for Glasgow, he didn’t want to take the place of any of his countrymen in the individual events.
Popularly known as Mr. Super Fast, Bolt has never participated in CWG. He missed the events in Melbourne and Delhi in the years 2006 and 2010 respectively.
That is one title which he still needs to grab, and once he gets a gold at CWG his cabinet will have it all.
The world will be eagerly looking forward to the exploits of Bolt in Glasgow.
#8 Shane Perkins Track cycling
Shane Perkins became the youngest ever Australian cyclist to win a Commonwealth Games medal in his hometown Melbourne in the year 2006. He won a bronze medal as part of Ausstralia’s team sprint squad.
In 2010 he represented his country in Delhi CWG in men’s individual sprint event and won gold medal there too. However at the keirin event he created controversy by flipping the bird at the officials on the track in response to his disqualification from the semifinals.
Now at his third Games, reigning sprint champion Perkins said the only impact he wanted to make at Glasgow was on the medal table.
#9 Sushil Kumar Wrestling
The 2014 CWG will be the first major event for double Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar after his silver winning feat at the London Games. However, this time he will be competing in the 74kg category instead of his customary 66kg category, due to a change in the rules.
Sushil’s only try-out in the new category before Glasgow came at the International Competition in Sassari, Italy, where he won the silver.
Previously, the two-time Olympic medallist would always be sweating it out to make the prescribed weight prior to tournaments.But this time, the man, who all his life had only known to control his weight, had to gain some and more before taking up serious training.
The Indian is truly a wrestling legend in his country, and would be raring to add even more feathers to his cap in Glasgow.
#10 Nicol David Squash
Four years ago, Nicol David completed her collection of major titles by the winning the Commonwealth Games gold in New Delhi.
Now, the undisputed seven-time world champion is looking to add yet another gold to her trophy cabinet when she leads Malaysia’s challenge in Glasgow.
As World No. 1, Nicol is the favourite to retain the gold but she can expect stiff competition from Alison Waters (No. 3) and Laura Massaro (No. 2) of England.
