Sport Wales, the nation's governing body for sport, outlined the target of 27 medals for this year's Games, an increase of eight to the haul earned in New Delhi four years ago.

Sport Wales has claimed the targets were discussed with sport bosses from each individual sport, with specific targets set out for each of these sports.

Swimming has been set the highest benchmark with six medals targeted for the Games, followed by athletics on four, and cycling and gymnastics on three.

Boxing, shooting, disability sport and bowls have each been set a target of two medals with triathlon, judo and weightlifting on one.

Sarah Powell, chief executive of Sport Wales said: "This is a bold ambition and rightly so - it reflects our aspiration to be a nation of champions.

"Wales has enjoyed an unprecedented amount of success since the last Games and we want to continue that momentum in Glasgow this summer

"We all know that we cannot control results and medals but we can do everything possible to help get our athletes competing at the highest level and getting to finals where they have every chance of winning medals.

"This is Sport Wales' role in partnership with the sports.

"It's about preparing our athletes to very best possible standard.

"We do need to remember, of course, that winning in elite sport takes investment and is resource-intensive.

"There are no real shortcuts available and the investment to support an elite performer is the same, whatever the size of the nation, which does make it even more rewarding for us as a smaller nation when we excel."

Dai Greene won one of three gold medals for Wales at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, in a competition which saw them finish 15th on the final medal table ©Getty Images

Wales finished 15th in the medal table during the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi collecting 19 medals, including three gold, initially two before boxer Sean McGoldrick was awarded gold following Manju Wanniarachchi's disqualification for failing a drugs test.

The feat was a repeat of the nation's performance at the 2006 Games in Melbourne with country again winning three gold medals.

The country's largest medal haul came during the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester where it collected a grand total of 31 medals, including six golds, and finished ninth on the final medal table.

On the medal target, chair of Sport Wales, Laura McAllister, said: "What is absolutely key is sustainable, systematic success.

"Medals are of course important but it is the systems, structures and work that goes on behind the scenes that is vital.

"We are analysing these systems very carefully as we don't just want one-off success. We are looking to continually build and learn through to the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and beyond."

Helen Philips, chair of Commonwealth Games Wales, the organisation responsible for selecting and delivering Team Wales at the Commonwealth Games, added: "It's great to see all our other key partners working with us to help deliver a successful Games for Wales.

"Every four year Commonwealth Games cycle involves a lot of collaboration to ensure that we select and send the strongest, best prepared team and we're confident that the team we're building is capable of bringing home a strong medal haul."

The long-term aspiration for Wales is to take the number one spot in the medals per head of population table.

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