The sports extravaganza at Gold Coast kickstarts with a grand opening ceremony at Carrara stadium today. Over 6600 athletes from 71 countries will eye glory in the multi-sport event, however, one of those athletes is unique in every way, with her age considerations. Lets have a look at the youngest participant at Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
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Eleven-year-old Anna Hursey from Wales is set to make Commonwealth Games history this week when the young table tennis sensation hopes to rise above her weight and clinch a medal for her nation. She is also the youngest ever participant in games history.
Standing just 1.60m, the Cardiff schoolgirl is a steadfast competitor. She also broke the record by appearing at last year’s European Championships.
BBC made a video when she was just nine, and that would be enough to put any backyard champion to shame and it was little surprise when she made her international debut for the senior Wales team last year — aged 10. She is already ranked as the UK’s top under-18s player and is the youngest athlete ever to represent Wales in senior competition in any sport.
The daughter of an English justice worker based in Cardiff and a Chinese immigrant, Hursey first picked up a table tennis bat at aged five. Within months she had been invited to join the national team and divides her time between Wales and China, where she practices with elite professionals in the table tennis-loving nation.
The 11-year-old will be happy to take home a Borobi souvenir or special edition blanket, she hopes to take home a medal.