Tom Barns earns maiden Commonwealth Games selection as part of six member Australian Team

WAIS scholarship holder Tom Barns will make his Commonwealth Games debut after being selected in the Commonwealth Games Australia Team for the Birmingham Games.

Barns, a natural sportsman, grew up playing AFL, rugby union and rowing in Perth, before turning to wrestling. He will celebrate his 21st birthday during the Birmingham Games.

The current Oceania champion will contest the men’s freestyle 97kg division.

Team Australia Chef de Mission, Petria Thomas OAM, congratulated the six wrestlers as they prepare for the ultra-tough environment of Commonwealth Games competition.

“Wrestling will be one of the most physically demanding and tactical sports in Birmingham,” she said.

“It always provides a fantastic opportunity for Australians to witness some of the most talented sportspeople from across the Commonwealth in action.

“Our wrestlers will be facing very stiff competition from nations like India, Nigeria and South Africa, but I know they have medal potential.”

Wrestling is a battle of strength, technique and strategy in which contenders try to grapple, throw and pin their opponents to the ground by using a variety of holds. It was on the program at every Commonwealth Games from Hamilton in 1930 through Edinburgh in 1986, but was omitted in Auckland 1990, Kuala Lumpur 1998 and Melbourne 2006. Women’s events made their debut in Delhi in 2010.