Over 3100 athletes in Delhi for 19th Commonwealth Games

In total, 3100 athletes from India and across the participating nations have arrived for the 3-14 extravaganza.

Nattrass, however, is yet to win a Commonwealth Games gold and she has two silver and three bronze medals to her credit.

The Jamaican contingent lives up to its rich athletic traditions, with Allodin Fothergill (men's 400 metres) Lerone Clarke (men's 100m), Oshane Bailey, who held the No 1 position for 100 metres at the Reebok Grand Prix in 2009, rubbing shoulders with Ricardo Cunningham, who is an 800 metres specialist.

Jamaican team manager Judith Ewart was hopeful of medals from field events with national record holders Maurice Smith (heptathlon), Dorian Scot (shot put) and Jason Morgan (discus) in the side.

The side also has some surprises, including IAAF World Junior Championships 100m bronze medallist Remaldo Rose.

Kenia Sinclair, national record holder in the 800m and IAAF Continental Cup double gold medallist hurdler Nickesha Wilson are also in the fray.

Also in Delhi is the Australian women's hockey team, winners of three Olympic gold medals, five World Cup medals, three Commonwealth Games medals and 12 Champions Trophies.

Eleven of the 16 players selected will make their Commonwealth Games debut in the team captained by Madonna Blyth.

Coach Frank Murray said that Australia is one of four teams capable of winning gold in 2010, identifying England, New Zealand and India as their biggest threats.

Murray said this year promised the tightest competition in Commonwealth Games history.
Malaysia had 93 more athletes and officials coming in, the largest contingent today.

These athletes will participate in archery, aquatics, cycling, gymnastics, badminton and weightlifting. Northern Ireland, New Zealand, England and Australia were among the countries that saw athletes arriving today.

Northern Ireland has brought in a formidable boxing squad and a very accomplished lawn bowls contingent.

In boxing, Tyrone McCullagh (men's 56kg) is a national champion and European bronze medallist.

Eammon O'Kane won the men's 75kg Commonwealth Championship in 2007 and European Championship bronze in 2008.

The shooting contingent includes Kirsty Barr, a gold medalist in ladies Olympic trap at the 2010 Commonwealth Championships and David Calvert, winner of four Commonwealth Games golds.