Katura Horton-Perinchief remained confident of reaching the final of her opening diving discipline at the Commonwealth Games today but to do so she needed to overcome a niggling injury.

Horton-Perinchief, niece of Sports Minister Randy Horton, was the first Bermudian competitor to see action in Manchester when the one metre springboard event took place at 7 a.m. Bermuda time today.

Speaking on the eve of competition, the 19-year-old, who lives and trains in Texas, said: "I have a broken sesamoid in my left foot which causes me to get a little crooked in my dive. But I have been working with my coach to sort it out and it should not be a factor."

In the preliminaries, Horton-Perinchief will execute five dives - an inward one and a half pike, front two and a half tuck, back one and a half pike, reverse one and a half pike and finally a front one and a half with full twist.

Having been informed what competitors will attempt to do, judges then mark what actually happened against what was intended.

All scores are subjective with judges working individually to score the diver's approach, take-off, elevation, execution and entry.

A judge will be looking for confidence, forcefulness and grace in the dive, while watching to make sure all the required manoeuvres are completed. Finally, the entry into the water is essential with the divers trying to make as little splash as possible.

While Horton-Perinichief said the three metre event was her forte she felt assured in her ability at the lesser height and although the Canadians looked formidable, she said "nobody really looks unbeatable".

"I'm going to try and final," she added. "I'll do my best and you never know."

Meanwhile, contrary to some rumours doing the rounds, Manchester City striker and proud Bermudian Shaun Goater will not be carrying the nation's flag at today's opening ceremony at the City of Manchester Stadium, although he will accompany the team into the stadium.

Goater is the honorary attach? and spent much of yesterday meeting the athletes as they arrived at the Games village.

While he would have been a popular choice among the sporting public to parade in front of the Island's competitors, it was felt the privilege should go to someone actually competing in the Games.

The identity of that person, though, was unclear last night with Bermuda Olympic Association officials keeping tightlipped.

"As much as I would have liked to have done it, this was the better outcome," said Goater last night. "It's all about the athletes after all."