A BOXER from Johnstone has been named as a member of Team Scotland for next year's Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Australia.

Scottish champion Robbie McKechnie will bid for a medal in the ring alongside eight other team members including Vicky Glover, who will become the first ever Scottish woman to be selected for a Commonwealth Games in the sport.

Also joining McKechnie will be Glasgow 2014 stars Reece McFadden, Aqeel Ahmed and Scott Forrest as well as Samoa 2015 Youth Games gold medallist John Docherty.

Mitchell Barton, Stephen Newns and Nathaniel Collins, all Scottish champions, complete the boxing line-up.

Fraser Walker, interim CEO, Boxing Scotland Ltd, said: “We have much to live up to following one of our most successful ever Commonwealth Games performances at Glasgow 2014.

"I am delighted and thankful that the Commonwealth Games Selection panel has shown faith in us and confirmed the selection of nine boxers at this stage.

“This is a ground breaking moment for Boxing Scotland with confirmation that Vicky Glover will become the first ever Scottish female boxer to be selected to represent Scotland in a senior Commonwealth Games and there were three further women in the mix.

"We had no female team members in Glasgow 2014 – this demonstrates how much work we have put into developing female boxing in Scotland and is testament to the performances of our female boxers who have impressed so much during the selection period.

“We have witnessed determination and courage from all the boxers in the world’s toughest tournaments throughout the selection period and our focus now turns to ensuring that our boxers deliver to very best of their ability in 124 days-time when the Games begin.”

The list of athletes announced today also included 26 other stars from para-bowls, shooting, triathlon and weightlifting.

They all join those previously selected in swimming, lawn bowls and squash.

Jon Doig OBE, Team Scotland Chef de Mission, said: “Huge congratulations to all of the athletes who have been selected for Team Scotland. We look forward to them representing their families, communities and country with pride in 2018.

“Every athlete with a place on the team has met the tough selection standards, just to make the team and it is clear that we have the quality within the team to deliver our goal of having our most successful ever overseas Games.”

Aileen Campbell, Minister for Public Health and Sport, said: “A massive congratulations to the latest athletes announced to represent Scotland at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

“By making it to the top of their respective sports, and being chosen to represent Scotland, they have already done a huge amount to make themselves, and all of us who will be cheering them on, so proud – and I have no doubt that will continue when the Games come around.

“Boxing, para-bowls, shooting and weightlifting have all seen great results for Scottish athletes over the years – triathlon and para-triathlon give the chance to make that success even stronger. I am really excited to see the mark all our athletes make on the Games.”

Today’s selections bring the total number of athletes named to Team Scotland to 68, following team announcements for Swimming and Lawn Bowls in October and Squash earlier this month. Further selections will be made over the coming months with Athletics next on 12 December 2017.