Commonwealth Games 2018: Wales select 12 weightlifters for Gold Coast

Team Wales have picked 12 weightlifters for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The contingent for Australia's Gold Coast on 4-15 April is double the number which represented Wales at the 2014 Games in Glasgow.

Christie Williams, who competed four years ago, and 2012 Olympian Gareth Evans are joined by teenage debutants Catrin Jones and Jordan Sakkas.

"It's the most exciting Welsh squad I've been a part of," Evans told BBC Sport Wales.

"It's a little bit disappointing that it's towards the end of my career!

"We've got some great youngsters on the squad - the likes of Jordan Sakkas and Catrin Jones. Hopefully I can help them with their preparation and performance."

Faye Pittman - who was selected for Glasgow but had to pull out injured on the eve of the opening ceremony - Seth Casidsid, Tayla Howe, Laura Hughes, Harry Misangyi, Joshua Parry, Hannah Powell and Rhodri West complete the team.

Wales' best sport

Weightlifting is trialling a new selection process based on where athletes rank in the Commonwealth.

All 12 lifters selected had to be in the top 15 in their weight category.

A number - including Hughes and Howe - have come to the sport from CrossFit since 2014.

Catrin Jones, the 18-year-old who won gold at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games, was this week named Wales' Young Sportswoman of the Year for 2017.

"It does mean a lot to me to go to the Commonwealth Games," she said. "It's something me and my dad have thought about from the very beginning.

"These Games I'm probably looking for experience more than anything as it'll be my first senior major international event.

"But hopefully the Games after that I'll be able to try to get a medal."

Weightlifting has provided Wales with its most medals (51) at Commonwealth Games.