It's four Commonwealth Games and three children since Sian Honnor made her Team England debut, writes James Toney.

Now 38, she returns to Glasgow for a fifth Commonwealth Games, chasing a fifth medal and with the honour of leading Team England into Thursday's Opening Ceremony.

The Herne Bay-based won triples bronze in Delhi in 2010 before claiming gold in Glasgow four years later. She added another bronze on the Gold Coast in 2018 and secured her second Commonwealth title in Birmingham in 2022.

She had already announced herself on the international stage by winning a medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Bendigo as a 16-year-old, making her a fitting choice to lead England's athletes in front of King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Hydro.

"It was actually speechless when I learned the news, which is very unusual for me," said Honnor, who was introduced to the sport by her grandparents.

"For bowls to have this opportunity and this kind of platform is incredible. The Commonwealth Games is the only multi-sport event that we're involved in, so it's special anyway.

"I tried to tell my husband first, but he was putting the children to bed, so he had to call me back. I ended up telling my mum, and there were plenty of tears—as you'd expect from Mum.

"She can't be here because my sister is currently in hospital about to have her first baby. There's a lot going on in our family at the moment. It's absolute chaos, but it's lovely.

"My children are on their way. They'll be here for the first game and for the Opening Ceremony. I've got Elizabeth, who turns six tomorrow, Zachary, who's nine, and Rupert, who's 11.

"Two of them are playing bowls themselves now, which is lovely. It'll be quite emotional seeing their little faces in the crowd. My boys watched us win gold at Birmingham and they were absolutely buzzing.

They're older now, so hopefully they'll get even more from the experience this time."

Bowls has been part of every Games programme, except one, since 1930, but for the first time it will be staged indoors, with Honnor joining forces with Amy Pharaoh in the women's pairs event.

"People obviously notice the obvious difference—carpet instead of grass—but there's much more to it than that.

The pace is different, the lines are different, and indoors you don't have variables like the weather or changing green conditions. The lighting is different too. It's the same sport and the same game, but the details are quite different.

"Everyone would love to win a medal, that's why people play sport. It'll be tough and hopefully we get some luck along the way."