Teenager Blagg basks in Indian experience

The Wakefield-born 13-year-old from Leeds, England's youngest competitor across all 17 sports in Delhi, finished a respectable eighth as Canada's Jennifer Abel took top step on the podium.

Australian Sharleen Stratton took the silver medal and another Canadian, Emilie Heymans, took the bronze medal.

Blagg finished 47.90 points off the pace as she could only muster 253.85, with fellow English and Yorkshire competitor Rebecca Gallantree two positions better off.

"It has been an amazing experience and I am just really enjoying myself," said Blagg. "It was a great performance and I am really pleased with what I achieved. I think I can go much further in my career than where I am right now.

"2012 is a goal for me but I hope to go out much further than that.

"Everyone is always looking out for me. I wasn't worried at all (about coming to India).

"I was actually really looking forward to coming out here because I wanted to meet the other athletes and be part of the village."

Gallantree, who finished seventh in qualifying, before improving by a single place in the final, was equally as pleased with her Delhi showing.

"I thought that was pretty good, pretty steady," said Gallantree.

"We did not really have any targets for the 1m just to get a good performance in and see where that takes us. It has been great to be honest, the village and pool have been fine but even if the pool is a little bit cold it has been a great experience.

"I don't think the age difference makes any difference (she is 26 to Alicia's 13). I sort of look after Alicia a bit but she is getting more and more confident with every competition she does which is great. I can't imagine being how talented and confident that she is at 13."

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