Commonwealth Games preview

Squash: Nicol ready to make history for England

Peter Nicol is looking to make history by winning England's first singles gold medal in squash at the Games, four years after he won the title for Scotland in Malaysia. The world No 1, who defected south of the border last year, is seeded No 1 in the event, which includes 13 of the world's top 15 men and is effectively a world open. The 29-year-old defending champion is seeded to meet his arch rival, the world No 2, Canada's Jonathon Power, in the final. That would be a repeat of the 1998 final. Nicol has lost three meetings against Power this year. England's team also includes Mark Chaloner and Paul Johnson, who won the men's doubles gold in 1998, plus Lee Beachill, the current British champion, and Cassie Jackman, who won a women's doubles gold in Kuala Lumpur. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also have representatives among 15 home nations' seeds (there are 32 seeds, 16 in each singles draw). In the women's singles, where eight of the world's top 10 compete, the hot favourite is the world No 1 Australia's Sarah Fitz-Gerald. England's Jackman is seeded to win bronze.

Gymnastics: Heap challenge confronts Rizzo

Despite no participants from the leading gymnastics nations – China, the United States, Romania, Russia and the former Soviet Union – the sport retains its allure and tickets sold out more quickly than for any other event. Australia, Canada and England should divide most of the medals, as they have consistently since 1978. Philippe Rizzo, a 21-year-old Australian, is one to watch in the men's disciplines, while 17-year-old Beth Tweddle, from Toxteth, is the favourite in the women's events. English challengers include Craig Heap, who was in the 1998 gold-winning men's team, and Kanukai Jackson, a bronze medallist on the vault at this year's European Championships.

Bowls: Allcock aims at improvement

England failed to win a bowls event in Kuala Lumpur in any of the men's or women's singles, pairs or fours. Changing that sorry state of affairs is now the job of the once all-conquering Tony Allcock, 13 times an indoor and outdoor world champion since 1976. As performance co-ordinator for the 14-strong England team his aim is medals. Strong challenges will come especially from Australia, South Africa and Scotland, all of whom won golds in 1998. Australia's 27-year-old glamour girl Karen Murphy will be looking to improve on her Malaysia silver, while Margaret Letham and Joyce Lindores will want to retain doubles gold for Scotland on the greens at Heaton Park.

Netball: Home support may be crucial

All the world's strongest netball nations are competing, making the Games an unofficial world championships. Australia, the title holders and favourites, are expected to meet New Zealand, their main rivals and 1998 silver medallists, in the final. Jamaica, South Africa and Fiji are expected to provide stiff opposition, with England hoping to be buoyed by home advantage. England's experienced squad includes six players who won bronze in Malaysia – the captain Olivia Murphy, Amanda Newton, Fiona Murtagh, who has come out of retirement from international netball for the Games, Karen Aspinall, Naomi Siddall and Tracey Neville, the sister of the Manchester United footballers Gary and Phil.

Badminton: Morgan offers Welsh hope

Badminton is split into the team competition, from 26 to 30 July, and the individual events – men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles – which start on 31 July and end on finals day, 4 August. Malaysia will be especially strong in the men's, not least defending men's singles champion Wong Choong Hann. Wales will look to 27-year-old Kelly Morgan (above) to retain her women's singles title. England's most prominent players are defending mixed doubles champions Simon Archer and Jo Goode. Goode also won a women's doubles gold in 1998. Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms are English prospects in mixed doubles. Both will also feature in the other doubles, Emms with Goode.

Shooting: Opportunity for battle of sexes

The shooting takes place in Bisley, Surrey. There are 19 separate disciplines in full-bore rifle, small-bore rifle, air rifles and pistols, and clay target shooting. Men and women compete individually and in teams and also, uniquely at the Games, against each other in the full-bore rifle. The home nations have traditionally been sharp shooters, with the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man in contention along with Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. English names to watch include Richard Faulds, the Olympic double trap champion, Michael Gault, a five-times Commonwealth Games gold medallist, and Charlotte Kerwood, a Sussex 15-year-old in the women's double trap.

Table Tennis: Threat to Syed farewell party

Table Tennis has held its own Commonwealth Championships since 1971 but makes its Games debut in Manchester. There will be men's and women's team events and individual events in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. England's Matthew Syed, the Commonwealth champion, hopes for gold before retirement, but fears Duan Yong Jun of Singapore and Chetan Baboor of India. Singapore will dominate women's events through the pair of Li Jia Wei and Jing Jun Hong, the strongest taking part. English women's hopes are led by Nicola Deaton. Katy Parker, 17, daughter of the former triple gold medallist and English performance director Jill Hammersley, will attract attention.

Weightlifting: Turcotte likely to flex muscles

Canada are expected to dominate this event, where women compete at the Commonwealth Games for the first time. Maryse Turcotte, who finished fourth in the Sydney Olympics and is the world university and Pan Am Games champion in the women's 58kg, is among the favourites. Compatriot Akos Sandor, defending champion in the men's 105kg snatch, clean and jerk and combined, has a good chance of defending his three titles. India, Australia and New Zealand are expected to be the biggest threats to Canada, while Nauru and Nigeria also expect medals. Welshman Dave Morgan, who won the first of seven Commonwealth golds aged 17 in 1982, returns for a sixth Games aged 38.

Melling grapples for gold

Seven golds will be contested at weights ranging from 55kg to 120kg as wrestling makes a reappearance at the Games after being dropped in 1998. Canada, which won nine of the 10 gold medals available eight years ago, are the strongest nation. The type of wrestling at the Games will be freestyle (also known as Lancashire) as opposed to Graeco-Roman, the other main form. One of the top names competing is Canada's Nigeria-born Sydney Olympic champion, Daniel Igali. The best British hope is Englishman John Melling, 31, the 66kg category favourite, the weight below Igali. Melling and Igali train together in Canada. India and Nigeria are the other major medal contenders.