EDINBURGH table tennis player Craig Howieson enjoyed a double confidence boost on day one of the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India, by winning the first two matches of his round-robin draw 3-0.
"It's always good to get the first match out of the way so to win two matches is great for my confidence," said the 18-year-old Edinburgh University PE student. "I've got one more match in my group tomorrow, but I'm expected to win it." Howieson w
as spurred on by the rest of his team. Cheering him from the stands for his second singles game yesterday were Scots from the badminton, weightlifting and wrestling. "There's a great atmosphere among the team and we have really bonded well together," he said.
Howieson was due to play his final singles match this morning before teaming up with Glasgow's Craig Hardie, for three doubles matches. Hardie, 18, has won one and lost one match in his round-robin singles group so far and will need to beat Jackson Morea Kariko from Papua New Guinea to secure his place in the main draw.
Elsewhere on day one, badminton players Edinburgh's Martin Campbell and Paul Van Rietvelde from Longniddry, seeded third and fourth respectively, both won their opening matches. "It was good to win that first match to settle the nerves and it was a comfortable win," said Campbell, who will also begin the doubles event tomorrow with Troon's Angus Gilmour.
"I've got a top Canadian next in the singles draw and in the doubles we've got the Canadians again," he said. "To get a medal we're in the right side of the draw but they are all tough matches, the same as in the singles."
Among the other winners on day one were Fauldhouse light-welterweight boxer Robert McKee, who defeated Zambia's Stephen Silungwe.
In the shooting event, Falkirk's Jennifer McIntosh finished fifth in the 50m Rifle Prone final, raising her position by one place after a disappointing 40-shot match before the final.
Daughter of Scottish Commonwealth Games competitors, Shirley and Donald, McIntosh, 17, will now concentrate on the 50 metres Rifle 3 Position event.
The full article contains 365 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
