By Josh Richards

GREENWICH weightlifter Zoe Smith will be one of England’s babies at this year’s Commonwealth Games but the 16-year-old insists the only tears in India will be tears of joy.

Smith was given the nod last week to be part of the England team for the showpiece Delhi event as part of a 12-strong squad heading to the sub-continent in October.

The Abbey Wood youngster has happy memories of India having claimed the Commonwealth Youth Games title there back in 2008, winning gold in the U53kg category aged just 14.

Smith’s coach Andy Callard, who will also coach the England squad in Delhi, was not shy in predicting her previous sub-continent success two years ago.

And while she was quick to doubt Callard back then, Smith believes she can live up to his lofty predictions this time round by marching to gold in India.

She said: “The Commonwealths are going to be my first senior international that I have ever done so it is going to be a big event and a big step into the senior international world.

“I am doing pretty well so far and my coach reckons I am definitely on to potentially get a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.

“When he says that I can get gold, it does put a little bit of pressure on me and make me nervous but he has never failed me before when he has said things like that.

“In 2008 I went to the Commonwealth Youth Games and he said ‘I think you’ll get gold’ and before I went I was just thinking, ‘oh I think he has gone mad’.

“But I ended up getting gold while I was out there, so I don’t see that shouldn’t translate to the senior championships.

“The Commonwealths are going to be my first senior international that I have ever done so it is going to be a big event and a big step into the senior international world but I think I can live up to my potential.”

Smith, who won silver in the 58kg class at the European Youth Championships in Spain last month, revealed her Commonwealth Games selection had brought about a hectic few days of interviews and media attention.

But while admitting the trip to India is at the top of her agenda for the time being, the 16-year-old admitted the lure of London 2012 is never far from her thoughts.

“I’ve been doing mostly phone interviews but it is still very time consuming but I think I am getting better at it,” added Smith, who was speaking at a Team 2012 Visa get together to celebrate the two year countdown to the London Paralympics.

“At the moment I am mostly focusing on the Commonwealths but I am definitely thinking about London 2012 at the back of my mind.

“To be honest it is quite a surprise that someone as young as myself will be considering going to the Olympics so it is quite a lot of pressure.

“A lot of people are saying to me ‘oh I hope you get the gold’ but I am thinking more realistically about being in the A final which is the top ten I think.

“Being in the top ten would be great and even just competing in the London 2012 would be a great experience.”