Final: Asmita Dey (IND) vs Heidi Quach (CAN)
The final followed the two bronze medal contests and delivered a dynamic and very even match. Quach opened the scoring, turning her back on Dey and cementing a landing that earned a yuko. Dey returned fire almost immediately though, using a ko-uchi-gari to even the scoreline. With a to-and-fro style from then on, but without another score, the athletes had to take a breath and prepare themselves for a golden score period.
It only took 25 seconds of extra time for Asmita Dey to regroup and, having been behind in the early exchanges of normal time and coming back to equalise, she then doubled her earnings by putting a second yuko on the board. Asmita Dey wins the first gold of the Commonwealth Games.
Bronze medal contest: Eva Ewing (SCO) vs Katryna Esposito (MLT)
A thoughtful and positive start to the contest saw both fighters work hard to dominate the gripping but 18-year-old Ewing was unable to find her way in past the more seasoned defences of Esposito. The latter then scored a yuko and transitioned perfectly into a juji-gatame for ippon. The first medal to be assigned in Glasgow goes to Malta!
Bronze medal contest: Botho Babutsi (BOT) vs Summer Shaw (SCO)
Summer Shaw arrived with hopes of reaching the final and a draw that might have allowed it but a narrow defeat in the semi-final against the number one seed saw her drop into the bronze medal contest.
Babutsi, although certainly less experienced than her Scottish opponent, came out ready for anything and looked strong in the opening exchanges. Shaw, however, never looked under pressure and created just the right moment to make her trademark juji-gatame an effective choice for the win. The ippon was called and young Scot could breathe a sign of relief; a podium place was hers.
Medallists
GOLD Asmita Dey (IND)
SILVER Heidi Quach (CAN)
BRONZE Katryna Esposito (MLT)
BRONZE Summer Shaw (SCO)
-52 kg: Evelyn Takes Gold for Canada and Pan-America
Final: Evelyn Beaton (CAN) vs Sofia Asvesta (CYP)
Beaton opened proceedings with a huge uchi-mata attack immediately after “Hajime,” setting the tone for the contest. It didn’t score, thanks to the flexibility of the Cypriot fighter. From then on, the Canadian stayed ahead on attack rate. Asvesta worked hard but couldn’t compete with the pace and succumbed to an attack with a minute to go; a yuko was scored. Asvesta pushed hard to equalise but it wasn’t to be. Beaten had done all that was necessary and as the clock ticked down to zero, she knew she had the gol medal secured.
Bronze medal contest: Lola Hodson (WAL) vs Tatum Keen (ENG)
Usually, on the IJF circuit, these two athletes would be competing on the same team, under the flag of Great Britain. Uniquely, for the Commonwealth Games the home nationals of the United Kingdom each compete under their individual flags and so Lola Hodson arrived in Welsh colours while Tatum Keen represented England.
Hodson’s upright style, looking for uchi-mata and ashi-waza, was in complete contrast to Keen’s, always on the hunt for the seoi-otoshi. It was the latter who emerged stronger, more frequent attacks making it difficult for Hodson to stay in contention. In the end the medal was assigned via penalties in favour of Keen.
Bronze medal contest: Marie Celine Baba Matia (CMR) vs Tinka Easton (AUS)
Easton arrived in Glasgow as the defending champion from the 2022 edition of the Commonwealth Games. However, a loss against Beaton in the semi-final, meant only bronze was possible this time.
Cameroon’s Baba Matia, a continental champion and seasoned world-championship competitor, was going to be no pushover for the Australian but Easton held on to her hopes of a podium finish. Baba Matia had other ideas though and countered Easton’s o-uchi-gari with power and precision for ippon to give the African Judo Union their first judo medal of this Games.
Medallists
GOLD Evelyn Beaton (CAN)
SILVER Sofia Asvesta (CYP)
BRONZE Tatum Keen (ENG)
BRONZE Marie Celine Baba Matia (CMR)
-57 kg: Toprak Takes England’s First Gold of the Glasgow Games
Final: Acelya Toprak (ENG) vs Yamini Mourya (IND)
Two competitors from the World Judo Tour, the number 1 and 2 seeds in Glasgow, arrived on the tatami for the final as the expected contenders for the gold medal; an extremely tight contest ensued. Both attacked, both defended well, both wanted to win!
With 90 seconds left on the clock each competitor had 2 penalties. Any mistake could cost either the gold medal, from that point on. The pace of attack stayed high from both but cracks began to appear for Mourya; less well prepared movements, more open in defence, Toprak looked to be taking control.
As they went in to golden score, hyper-aware of their remit, the rhythm shifted further in favour of the English judoka and eventually the third penalty was given to Mourya, stopping the Indian team taking their third gold of the day, handing England their first.
Bronze medal contest: Marie Begue (MRI) vs Donne Breytenbach (RSA)
Breytanbach made light work of her bronze medal contest, throwing Begue for a waza-ari immediately. Begue bounced back up though and as she did, Breytanbach attacked again and turned her over into a hold. Ten seconds passed quickly and the South African athlete had the medal claimed in less than 30 seconds, a second medal for the AJU on day 1 in Glasgow.
Bronze medal contest: Frema Agyei (GHA) vs Lele Nairne (ENG)
Seventeen-year-old Agyei has already had a brilliant day, showing her intentions for the future. A bronze medal contest against an Olympian was always going to be a tall order and she certainly came out positively, but Nairne, a big thrower, was determined to finish her day in style having lost her semi-final against compatriot Toprak. A massive sode-tsuri-komi-goshi fulfilled her plan; it was a bronze medal for Lele Nairne.
Medallists
GOLD Acelya Toprak (ENG)
SILVER Yamini Mourya (IND)
BRONZE Donne Breytenbach (RSA)
BRONZE Lele Nairne (ENG)