Final: Laurence Biron (CAN) vs Saya Middleton (AUS)
Biron led from the outside, sharper, more focused and more dynamic. Middleton accrued two penalties in normal time but was still in play as no positive scores were registered to either white or blue.
As they went into golden score Middleton stepped up her pace and Biron earned her first shido but it was a short-lived reprieve as a minute later Middleton had her third. This Commonwealth title was assigned to Laurence Biron and Canada, silver for Saya Middleton of Australia.
Bronze Medal Contest: Skye Knoester (RSA) vs Unnati Sharma (IND)
It took little more than a minute for Sharma to defeat Knoester, throwing wit ha beautiful counter for ippon. Each fighter had a brilliant morning session, working their way into the final block with performances they can be proud of.
Bronze Medal Contest: Enku Ekuta (NGR) vs Rita Kabinda (ZAM)
An all-African medal contest between Nigeria and Zambia meant that no matter who won, a new country would be added to the medal table. Kabinda’s trademark in the preliminary rounds had been her ability to enter with powerful attacks at speed, using her range to latch on to her opponents and execute big techniques. Both the ashi-waza and raw strength of the Nigerian athlete would be a tough challenge for Kabinda though.
The fight stayed close throughout the first three minutes, no scores logged, but as the final minute approached, Ekuta took a breath and honed in on the perfect space to attack. She turned her back once and scored waza-ari and in the very next movement she did it again and this time it was for ippon. Nigeria has their first Commonwealth judo medal in Glasgow.
Medallists
GOLD Laurence Biron (CAN)
SILVER Saya Middleton (AUS)
BRONZE Unnati Sharma (IND)
BRONZE Enku Ekuta (NGR)
-70 kg: Petersen-Pollard’s Patience Pays Off
Final: Aoife Coughlan (AUS) vs Kelly Petersen-Pollard (ENG)
The current world number two, Coughlan, might have arrived thinking she had the gold sewn up but this was a stacked category, several World Judo Tour medallists among them. Five grand slam medals say Petersen-Pollard was not going to make it easy for the Australian.
As the contest began it was clear that Petersen-Pollard had done the right analysis on her opponent. Gripping confidently and specifically, she looked calm and ready to take the win no matter how long it took. She attacked with the necessary frequency and held her nerve throughout, not making mistakes or rushing. Coughlan’s answer was to do both, rushing her preparation and making mistakes that ultimately cost her. Petersen-Pollard entered golden score with no penalties, Coughlan had two. Five minutes later the title was delivered to the English judoka. It was a precise, measured performance.
Bronze Medal Contest: Rachel Hawkes (NIR) vs Charlie Thibault (CAN)
Thibault looked the more confident of the two judoka as they stepped on to the tatami but Hawkes built her rhythm well and spurred on by her sister from the coaches’ chair, Sarah Barritt, she began to emerge as the stronger competitor.
As the first minute passed, Hawkes increased her pace to press the Canadian. Another forty-five seconds later and she found the space she had been hunting and spun underneath Thibault with a perfect seoi-otoshi. It was reward with the “Ippon” call from the referee, The medal was heading to Northern Ireland, their second of the day.
Bronze Medal Contest: Katie-Jemima Yeats-Brown (ENG) vs Moira De Villiers (NZL)
On paper this contest should be going England’s way without too much trouble but Yeats-Brown had struggled through the preliminary rounds, losing to fellow Englishwoman Kelly Petersen-Pollard in their quarter-final.
De Villiers, a veteran of the international circuit, came out fully prepared, homework done. Tidy transition phases saw her dominate on the ground while Yeats-Brown’s attacks in tachi-waza lacked her usual power. However, 2 minutes into golden score, knowing the impetus to change the run of play had to be with her, she employed a brilliantly timed ko-uchi-gake and scored ippon.
As she left the competition platform, Yeats-Brown was clearly emotional and found her mum in the crowd for a long, much-needed hug.
Medallists
GOLD Kelly Petersen-Pollard (ENG)
SILVER Aoife Coughlan (AUS)
BRONZE Rachel Hawkes (NIR)
BRONZE Katie-Jemima Yeats-Brown (ENG)