Heriot-Watt students are going for gold

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A handful of Heriot-Watt students are going for gold in the Commonwealth Games in Australia's Gold Coast.

A total of 224 Scottish athletes will compete in the Games, which runs for the next 12 days – with a group from Heriot-Watt striving to win their share of medals.

James Fleming who studies Business Studies at the Edinburgh Business School is part of Scotland's Sevens squad for Down Under.

Fleming aims to savour his Commonwealth Games experience. He said: “I guess I'm quite excited. There is a real Team Scotland feel; we are striving to be the most successful Scotland team ever at an overseas Games.

“But, for us, we are still within our squad, within our targets, and it's a Sevens tournament at the end of the day, which we will be going out to medal in.”

Lynsey Sharp who studies Business Management at the university and is competing in the 800 metres, is looking forward to being part of Team Scotland.

She said: “I don't think anything will ever top Glasgow in terms of where it was and the story behind it.

“I have been looking forward to going back to Australia for so long. And this time it seems a lot more relaxed as well which makes it a lot more fun. I miss my little call room buddy, Melissa Bishop. She is pregnant. But I have all my mates, all my friends.”

Meanwhile Electrical Engineering student Seonaid McIntosh, who is competing in target shooting, added: “The Glasgow Games were pretty cool. I was 18, still at school and it was quite nerve wracking being a home games with lots of family and friends there.

“But I've learned from that and I think the Gold Coast should be really exciting if I'm picked.

The Commonwealth Games opening ceremony took place today with track and field star Eilidh Doyle carrying the flag for Scotland at the event.

The 2014 Games, hosted in Glasgow, saw Team Scotland win a record 53 medals, including 19 golds.

This is Scotland's biggest squad at a Commonwealth Games, and one of the largest at the Games - only the hosts, New Zealand, Canada and England have sent more representatives.