Welsh medal hopes at the 2016 Commonwealth Games have been given a huge boost with the addition of events to create equal opportunities for men and women.

Three cycling events have been added to the Gold Coast programme with a women’s keiren, team sprint and team pursuit.

There will also be an additional event in women’s weightlifting (+90kg) and three more in women’s boxing (45kg – 48kg, 54 – 57kg and +75kg_

Matt Cosgrove, Performance Director at Welsh Cycling said: “The addition of three track cycling events for 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games is a significant step forward.

“With the further four events in boxing and weightlifting, it brings equality to the medals on offer for both men and women.

“We thank Chris Jenkins, and Commonwealth Games Wales for their support in getting these events added.

“For Welsh Cycling, this means we have more events to target in the Gold Coast.

“Wales’ Becky James, Elinor Barker and Ciara Horne have won medals in these events at European, World and Olympic level and it would be great to see this success continue for Wales on the Commonwealth stage in 2018.”

The announcement was made by 2018 Gold Coast Chairman Peter Beattie at the Commonwealth Games Federation Sports Summit in Canada.

He said: “GC2018 will host the largest ever para-sport program, gender-equal medal events across the sport program. We hope this focus on inclusivity will prove to be one of the most outstanding 2018 Games’ legacies.

“This initiative supports the CGF’s vision for greater gender equality and I am confident that the precedent we establish for 2018 will augur well for future multi-sport events to emulate.”

The seven events added to the programme, takes the total number of medal events at Gold Coast 2018 to a record-breaking 275.

In Glasgow 2014, Wales won 5 medals in cycling events – the best-ever Commonwealth Games for Welsh Cycling