CORPORAL Louisa Walker is looking forward to competing in the Invictus Games representing her country at a sport she has only recently taken up.

The soldier, who serves with the Royal Signals, is competing in archery in the international celebration of athletes with military backgrounds taking place this week - from today to Sunday Sept 14).

The Invictus Games are a unique opportunity for the public to support those who have made a personal sacrifice for others, but focus on what they can achieve, post-injury.

Taking part are wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women at venues made famous by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The ethos behind the games is athletes harnessing the power of sport to aid their recovery.

Louisa, 32, is based with the military Hasler Company in HM Naval Base, Devonport, Plymouth, and is from Blantyre, near Hamilton south of Glasgow. She suffers from a chronic pain syndrome that has built up over the years and exacerbated by her previously active sporting life, including multiple snowboarding crashes.

She said: “I have a great sense of pride taking part in the Invictus Games. This is giving me a kind of second chance at sport and competing again after having to give up all the things I loved doing. The Games is a chance for Service people to have a go again at sport when they thought they’d never be able to run or play football again due to combat or accident injuries or other conditions.’’ Louisa thanked the Help for Heroes charity and staff at Hasler Company.

Hasler Company was created specifically to take in troops from all three services who have long-term injuries and conditions and support them working towards a new future, whether in or out of the military.

She said: “I can’t thank Hasler Company enough. They gave me the chance to have a new active life again and have a sense of self-worth. I was stranded in my flat alone with no hope of doing anything active again. But they and Help for Heroes gave me the help needed to begin a new life.’’ She will be competing in the UK Armed Forces Team against military personnel from 13 countries including the US which has stages the Wounded Warrior Games that inspired Invictus and added: “I’m really nervous about representing my country in Invictus, its only just sinking in. I’m really hoping for a medal.’’