Two Powys stars could be in action for the Welsh hockey team as the Commonwealth Games get underway today.

This morning saw the spectacular opening ceremony of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games but there is no time for Wales' women’s hockey team to enjoy the occasion as they are straight into action against India.

The game takes place just after midnight (12.30am) UK time tonight (Weds). Due to the time difference the game is a breakfast time match in Australia.

Phoebe Richards, from Knighton, has established herself as a regular in the Welsh team while Delyth Thomas, from Llanfihangel Nant Bran, near Brecon, is considered one of the rising stars of the sport.

Forward Phoebe, who recently turned 25 and has amassed 85 caps since making her debut in 2012, scored for Wales at the 2014 games in Glasgow.

Defender Delyth, who doesn’t turn 20 until August, made her Wales debut in 2015 and was recently selected for the Great Britain Elite Development programme.

She followed her mother, Kate, into the Brecon Hockey Team and the University of Birmingham biology student has postponed some of her academic work to next year to prepare for the games.

Hockey Wales said: "Delyth is definitely one to watch. Since being selected for the GB Elite Development Programme she has already started to benefit from the high quality and diverse hockey training it offers; spending time training recently in Alicante."

On Friday the women take on England at 10.30am UK time. Coincidentally Wales and England's female footballers clash in a Women's World Cup qualifier that same evening in Southampton.

Hockey fans have an early start on Monday, April 9 when the women take on South Africa at 5.30am. They finish their group schedule against Malaysia at 12.30am on Wednesday, April 11.

The top two teams from each pool will play the semifinals on Thursday, April 12 while the teams franked from third to fifth will play in the classification rounds.

The gold medal and bronze medal matches take place on Saturday, April 14