The talented young athletes charged with making a nation proud at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow flew out from Scotland yesterday to embark on the latest leg of their journey towards international stardom.
A team of 44 will represent the country at the Commonwealth Youth Games in India this month.
While Scotland are expected to return with a medal haul, the focus is very much on the future as preparations for the senior games in six years continue.
Jon Doig, the chief executive of Commonwealth Games Scotland, said: “l am confident that we have selected an outstanding team to compete in Pune and it is fantastic to see the length and breadth of Scotland represented, from Troon to Aber-deen to the Isle of Islay.
“Whilst winning medals is important, the major benefit of the Commonwealth Youth Games is exposing young athletes to this level of competition in a multi-sport environment.
“It is the ideal preparation event for future senior Commonwealth Games and I am sure their experience at these games will inspire many of them to go on to compete successfully at senior level in Delhi in 2010 and particularly Glasgow in 2014."
Four athletes are flying the flag for the north-east in the Pune games, which run from October 12 to 18.
Stonehaven swimmer Sara Hamilton will test herself in the 50 metres and 100m freestyle as well as the 50m butterfly.
The 14-year-old Mackie Academy pupil has had a fantastic year, breaking a series of national records, and is viewed as one of Scottish swimming’s great hopes for the future.
Aberdeen boxer Stephen McAllister is another being tipped to make a huge impact in the years ahead, having already made a name for himself while competing overseas. He is part of a boxing team led by his elder brother David for next week’s competition.
Joining Hamilton and McAllister in the team are Kay Copland, from Banff, and Aberdeen’s Catriona McGregor. Both are in the shooting team.
Copland, an Aberdeen University student, said: “I’m not really nervous, maybe more surprised to be going so far and to be involved in such a big event.
“It is going to be hot and stuffy, nothing like the conditions we have been preparing in, so we know it will take a bit of getting used to. We met for the first time as a team before the flight. Every-one is quite relaxed and, hopefully, that is a good sign.
“I’ve competed at the Euro-pean junior championships before, but this will be on a bigger scale than anything I’ve experienced.
“Most of my competitions so far have been at under-21 level, but these games are under-18, so I’m confident I can do well.”
There will be 351 medals to be won at the Indian games, with all 71 Commonwealth countries invited to compete.