Team Scotland’s lawn bowlers are gearing up for 11 days of competition as they take to the greens at Broadbeach Bowling Club on the opening day of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The first day of competition will see all 17 Scottish bowlers in action, as six disciplines are played across the day: Men’s Triples and Pairs, Women’s Fours and Singles, Para-Sport Mixed B2/B3 Pairs and Open B6/B7/B8 Triples.

Alex Marshall and Paul Foster return to the greens as reigning champions in the Men’s Pairs and will be starting their preliminary rounds on Thursday. The duo picked up gold at both Melbourne 2006 and Glasgow 2014 – a title they are keen to hold on to at Gold Coast 2018.

Alex, from Tranent, said: “We worked hard for the gold in Glasgow 2014, and that’s something we’re here to replicate this year.

“I try not to let the pressure of the competition get to me. For me, it’s important to remember that we are considered the pair to beat – and that we’ve put in all the hard work and training to get to this point. We’re ready to take on the competition and are really looking forward to getting started.”

Lawn Bowls is one of the seven sports at the Games to have Para-Sport integrated into the competition schedule. The other six are Aquatics, Athletics, Cycling, Table Tennis, Triathlon and Weightlifting. Team Scotland will compete in all Para-Sports except Table Tennis.

Glasgow 2014 silver medallists in the B2/B3 Mixed Pairs, Irene Edgar and her director David Thomas return to Commonwealth Games action on Thursday and will team up with Robert Barr and his Director Sarah Jane Ewing for a shot at another podium place.

Also in action are the B6/B7/B8 Triples and Garry Brown, competing at his first Games, spoke about the benefits of playing Para-Bowls as part of the Commonwealth Games. He said: “After Glasgow 2014, we noticed a big uplift in the number of people with disabilities coming along to try their hand at Para-Bowls, and it was even more special because the Games were at home and we could make the most of that increase in interest.

“Over the last few months, again, we’ve noticed an increase. We host development days across the country and these are steadily getting busier and busier. The Games definitely show people that sport is for everyone and we are always really happy to see more interest in Para-Bowls.

“I can’t wait to get started here in Gold Coast. We never aim for anything less than Gold – and we’re not unique in that aspect. Everyone here is striving for gold so there’s a lot of competition. However, we’ve been practising as often as we can throughout the country and we’re here to play our best. If that means walking away with a medal then we’ll be very happy!”

The Lawn Bowls competition will run right through to the final day of the Games, with Team Scotland’s bowlers competing across all 10 medal events: Men’s and Women’s Singles, Men’s and Women’s Pairs, Men’s and Women’s Triples, Men’s and Women’s Fours, B2/B3 Mixed Pairs, and B6/B7/B8 Open Triples.

Games played on the first day of competition (Thursday 5 April) will be: