Wrestling: Delhi Games team breaks new ground

Two firsts are a highlight of New Zealand's wrestling team for October's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

The group of six includes Sian Law, a 29-year-old from Tawa, outside Wellington, the first woman to represent the country in the discipline, which makes its Games debut this year.

And Christchurch 22-year-old Sam Belkin is New Zealand's first wrestler in the ancient Greco-Roman version of the sport.

Law will have her first international experience outside the Oceania region, having finished second at the Oceania championships this year.

"I'm pretty excited. Going to the Commonwealth Games has been a goal of mine since I started wrestling."

Inclusion of women's categories in the Games points to the growing number of participants in the sport, whose history dates back to the earliest Olympic Games.

The youngest members of the squad are Belkin and Auckland's Andrei Paulet, both at 22. The eldest is the biggest of the team, Wellington 39-year-old Nick Lane.

Paulet moved to New Zealand from Romania eight years ago. He has been ranked New Zealand's best junior and is in his first year in the senior ranks.

"Andrei trained in wrestling in Romania before he emigrated and struggles to find wrestlers to test himself against in New Zealand," team coach Mark Grayling said.

"As a result, Andrei will base himself in Romania for the final pre-Delhi preparation."

The team will head overseas next month to compete at the Spanish Grand Prix and British Cup, before going to the world championships in Moscow.

"Attending international competition is a crucial part of team preparation. Our wrestlers have to be match-fit and mentally prepared, and international competition is the only way to achieve this," Grayling added.

New Zealand has a decent wrestling record at the Games, which has been on the programme just twice in the past 20 years.

The country has won 27 medals, the last in Edinburgh 24 years ago. It was not on the card at Melbourne in 2006.

MEDAL PROSPECTS

New Zealand Commonwealth Games wrestling team

Men:
* Under 120kg: Nick Lane (Wellington)
* Under 96kg: Aaron Quinlan (Hamilton)
* Under 84kg: Stephen Hill (Christchurch)
* Under 66kg: Andrei Paulet (Auckland)
* Greco-Roman: Sam Belkin (Christchurch)

Women:
* Under 51kg: Sian Law (Tawa)