Bell hides tears to boost team-mates

England captain Steve Bell today planned to wipe away tears of personal disappointment and cheer on his seven team-mates contesting the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games boxing competition.

After failing by the narrow margin of 18 points to 15 against featherweight rival Benoit Gaudet of Canada, the 27-year-old part-time actor broke down, saying: "I put so much work into this. My son asked me to bring back the gold medal and I promised I would."

Yet Bell remained aware of his responsibilities to a team which has seen seven out of 12 fighters make it through to the last four and a guaranteed bronze, as the boxing now moves to the larger MEN Arena.

He added: "I'll be there shouting, like over the past week. I am sure the lads can win gold medals."

One of those hopes, 20-year-old Croydon postman Darren Langley, beat Ghanaian light-flyweight Joseph Martey 23-8 on points to reach the semi-finals.

And Liverpool-based Paul Smith, 19, was perhaps fortunate to get the verdict Ghana's Thomas Awimbono 21-17 in the light-middleweight quarter-finals.