James Ball Takes Second Silver Medal For Wales. . . And Says It’s Getting Harder

Welsh para-cyclist James Ball says he will treasure his two Commonwealth silver medals after finishing second in the men’s blind and visually impaired (B&VI) sprint.

The Newport-based Ball and pilot Peter Mitchell lost to Scotland’s Neil Fachie and Matt Rotherham in the final. The Welsh partnership were beaten into second by the same Scottish team in Thursday’s time trial.

Australians Brad Henderson and Tom Clarke finished third and took the bronze.

Ball, 26, said: “This was the aim when I came out here, so these are medals that I will treasure.

“The second one was harder, so I am very pleased to come away with a silver.

“I used to be a sprinter (Para athletics) but suffered a grade three hamstring tear and missed out on London (2012 Paralympic Games). I had about five or six injuries in 2015.

“It was mentally tough and reached the point where I thought, ‘I can’t do this any more’. Then, a British Cycling sports development officer from Manchester came to test me and things just went from there. I’d never cycled before, but things have just gone really well.”