Beth Goodwin wants to help Scottish Thistles justify their ranking position in the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and make everyone back home proud.
The Strathclyde Sirens star is part of Tamsin Greenway’s 12-strong Scottish Thistles squad for the Birmingham Games, starting with Australia on July 30, in a Group A that also features Jamaica, South Africa, Wales and Barbados.
Goodwin, from Cambuslang, says getting out of the group and into the play-offs would be an incredible achievement, and hopes to help that happen.
The 22-year-old said: “It’s a good challenge ahead. The pool we’re in is really tough.
“We want to focus on ourselves and putting out good performances that we’re proud of, but also getting results by doing that.
“I think, apart from the games against Barbados, we’ve been really limited in our chances to play international tests.
“This is another way to try and lift netball in Scotland, try and get ranking points, put in good performances, and hopefully make everyone back home proud.
“I think if we get out of our group and are able to get into play-offs for eighth, that will be a good goal.
“To match our ranking would be a good result for us, and just shows that we’re in that position for a reason.”
Having also represented Scotland at the 2018 Gold Coast Games, Goodwin is excited about the prospect of heading back into action again.
While the weather might not be as good in the West Midlands, Goodwin hopes for a nice experience.
She added: “It’s great that the squad has been finally announced – we knew a few weeks before, but could only tell our close friends and family, so we had to sit on it for a wee while.
“We’re all really excited and we’ve got a good summer of training ahead of us, to get prepared.
“This is my second Games, I went to Gold Cost in 2018 and now have made it to Birmingham, so I know what to expect, and I’m excited to do it all again.
“It’s good that loads of travelling supporters can come to watch us, which will make such a difference, and hopefully some of my friends and family can make it to some of the matches.
“It’s really exciting to be part of a multi-sport event as well.
“It’s not just netball, we’re part of Team Scotland, and that makes it a really good atmosphere around the village, spurring on teammates who aren’t just netball as well.
“It’s wanting everyone to do well, so it’s a different experience to World Cups and European Championships.
“It makes it that bit more special, because we’re part of a bigger team, essentially.”
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