The Nelson lawn bowler Val Smith has won a silver medal at the Delhi Commonwealth Games.
Smith made a terrible start to the tournament losing four of her first six matches, but then won six straight, beating Scotland's Claire Johnston then Australia's Kelsey Cottrell in her semi-final before losing the final to Englishwoman Natalie Melmore 2-0.
Smith, a former world champion, admits she got into the medal rounds via the back door, but feels her experience probably helped in the end as she didn't get upset along the way and tried to stay focused.
Smith says the Englishwoman played particularly well and deserved the title.
Earlier Ali Forsyth was beaten in his first play-off match by Australian Leif Selby, just his second loss of the tournament.
