Commonwealth Games: Ford hopes medals will unlock funding

Tayla Ford (right) and Carissa Holland (Australia) battle it out in Glasgow. Photo / Greg Bowker

Wrestling is one of New Zealand's marginal sports that can benefit from the exposure of the Commonwealth Games and Tayla Ford is hoping new funding will be just around the corner after the double bronze medal sweep in Glasgow.

The Kiwis had waited almost 30 years for a wrestling medal, but two arrived in 15 minutes at the Scottish Exhibition centre as Ford triumphed alongside her Canterbury training partner, Sam Belkin.

They have been training in a disused stewards room at the Rangiora Club, but Ford is hoping this success will set her up to go and hone her skills in Sweden with coach Murray Shore.

"I'm hoping these successes can raise the profile of the sport in New Zealand," said Ford.

"It's great to see Sam win as well, because I know how much it meant to him. I have known him since I started wrestling, which was when I was about 9 years old.

"Perhaps the medals will see us get some new funding, so we can actually go overseas and train."

Ford was a keen rugby player at Avonside Girls' High School, playing sevens for Canterbury and also being selected for a national camp.

Richie McCaw would have been proud of the groundwork on show in the wrestling and Ford believes her rugby skills have helped on the journey to Commonwealth bronze.

"Rugby to wrestling was quite an easy switch. We're quite flexible and cat-like really," said Ford.

Ford and New Zealand coach Mark Grayling believe there is a large untapped pool of potential wrestlers throughout the country.

"There's a huge amount of talent in New Zealand," said Grayling. "There are so many physically fit people that could make good wrestlers. If we could bring them into the sport when they're young then it could be huge.

"It's been a 28-year wait for a medal, so these results will give the sport a massive boost."