European and Commonwealth champions in Eng CWG athletics team

London: Double European gold medallist Mo Farah along with defending champions Phillips Idowu, Lisa Dobriskey and Christine Ohuruogu highlight a 100-strong England athletics team for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Idowu and Farah, who recently broke the 28 year-old British 5000m record, are among 13 medallists from European Championships in Barcelona, who join a new medal campaign in the Indian capital just two months after helping to record the best ever medal tally of 19 medals for Britain, Athletics England said in a statement. "I`m really looking forward to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. After an amazing season, two gold medals in the European Championships and a new British 5000m record, I hope to finish a fantastic summer season with another good performance in India," Farah said. Marlon Devonish, Andy Turner, Chris Tomlinson and Goldie Sayers add more experience to the team having featured in eight previous Games among them, while Andy Baddeley, Chris Thompson and William Sharman present new medal opportunities. Recently crowned European 110m hurdles champion Turner said, "I`m extremely happy about my Commonwealth Games selection, it`s been a great season so far and I look to go to India and win another gold medal. The Commonwealth Games in Melbourne was a fantastic competition so I`m very excited to finish my season- hopefully on a high- in Delhi."After losing their 2010 season to injury, Ohuruogu and British long jump record holder Greg Rutherford will return to international competition in Delhi. "I`m delighted to welcome such a strong group of track and field athletes into the England team for Delhi and look forward to their performances there especially after such a stunning European Championships. I wish them every success in their final preparations for the Games and when they are in Delhi," said Craig Hunter, Chef de Mission for England. "We are confident that we have assembled an accomplished athletics team which is well- balanced, extremely competitive and comprises an exciting blend of experience with the talent of youth," Commonwealth Games England Athletics Team Leader John Brierley added.Talented youngsters named in the team for the 2010 campaign are 2009 European Junior 110m hurdles gold medalist Lawrence Clarke, recent World Junior triple jump silver medallist Laura Samuel and young middle distance talent Niall Brooks, the 2009 European Junior 800m silver medallist. England won six gold, four silver and eight bronze medals at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, with Christine Ohuruogu (400m), Kelly Sotherton (heptathlon), Lisa Dobriskey (1500m), Phillips Idowu (triple jump), Dean Macey (decathlon) and Nick Nieland (javelin) bringing home titles. English athletes have won 177 golds, 173 silvers and 157 bronzes to top the all-time medal table. There are 46 athletics events taking place at the Delhi Games including track and field events, marathon, 20km walks and disability events. PTI