SPORT Wales has today confirmed its “unashamedly ambitious” aspirations for Welsh success at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer.

Wales are targeting 27 medals - an increase of eight medals on the Delhi haul of 19.

The sports themselves have analysed medal potential and agreed the following targets with Sport Wales: swimming - six medals; athletics - four; cycling - three; gymnastics - three; boxing - two; shooting - two; disability sport - two; bowls - two; judo - one; weightlifting - one; triathlon - one.

The long-term aspiration is to take the number one spot in the medals per head of population table.

Sport Wales chief executive Sarah Powell said: “This is a bold ambition and rightly so - it reflects our aspiration to be a nation of champions.

“Wales has enjoyed an unprecedented amount of success since the last Games and we want to continue that momentum in Glasgow this summer.

“We all know that we cannot control results and medals but we can do everything possible to help get our athletes competing at the highest level and getting to finals where they have every chance of winning medals.

"This is Sport Wales’ role in partnership with the sports. It’s about preparing our athletes to very best possible standard.

“We do need to remember, of course, that winning in elite sport takes investment and is resource-intensive. There are no real shortcuts available and the investment to support an elite performer is the same, whatever the size of the nation, which does make it even more rewarding for us as a smaller nation when we excel.”

And Powell explains that being a small nation should not be an excuse: “Actually, being small unites us and drives us on to success," she added. "Our athletes belong on podiums, we expect to win and we expect to break records.”

Professor Laura McAllister, chair of Sport Wales, said: “What is absolutely key is sustainable, systematic success.

"Medals are of course important but it is the systems, structures and work that goes on behind the scenes that is vital. We are analysing these systems very carefully as we don’t just want one-off success. We are looking to continually build and learn through to the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and beyond.”