BVI athletes showcase at 2018 Commonwealth Games

The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games are on and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is sharing in the spotlight.

A team of 10 athletes and other BVI officials was led by 400-metre hurdler and flag bearer Kyron McMaster at the Carrara Stadium at the Opening Ceremony on Wednesday, April 4 in Australia.

The Gold Coast 2018 games is an international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth. More than 6,600 athletes and team officials from 71 Commonwealth nations, including the BVI, will be participating.

This is the territory’s eighth time participating since their debut in Auckland, New Zealand in 1990. Importantly, it is also the BVI’s first major international event since the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

First Game

The first event of Gold Coast 2018 started for BVI athletes on Thursday, April 5 with Joe Chapman and Neville Sorrentino playing matches in the men’s Squash singles.

Chapman is said to have played with strength in his match against Farhan Zaman of Pakistan over four games. But he ultimately lost 11-6, 11-13, 11-4, and 11-6 to the Pakistani.

“I feel good with how this match went,” Chapman said.

“I was going toe-to-toe with him until the end and playing some of the best squash in my life especially considering everything that happened after the storm and the lack of squash facilities at home.”

Neville Sorrentino also took defeat from another Pakistani, Tayyab Aslam.

Sorrentino admitted that the match was ‘tough’ and he was nervous but he enjoyed it.

He said the game was played in good spirits.

“I’m just happy to be part of these games and to have this experience of a lifetime,” he said.

The two will continue with matches in the ‘plate round’ today, April 6.

They will then compete in the men’s doubles on Tuesday, April 10 when they go up against Declan James and James Willstrop of England.

The Virgin Islands squash duo will meet the Pakistani players, Aslam and Zaman again in a doubles match on Thursday, April 11.

Track and Field

In the meantime, track and field events for the BVI athletes will begin on Sunday, April 8 and continue through to April 12.

The games will be broadcast live on Flow Sports.

Live coverage on the Flow Sports networks will start daily at 7pm Eastern Caribbean Time and extend late into the night.

Caribbean fans can also follow live Commonwealth Games events each morning.