Judo

Richard Winton
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, PA Media

This was not the way Sarah Adlington wanted her judo career to end.

The 39-year-old, who won Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow in 2014 and again in Birmingham four years ago, had envisaged going out with a third visit to the top step of the podium.

However, Scotland's opening ceremony flagbearer lost her first fight of the week to Marie Loanne Durhone of Mauritius in the +78kg division to crash out at the last-16 stage and miss out on even a chance of bronze through the repechage.

"I'd worked so hard to be the best I could be and the margins are so small," said a tearful Adlington.

"I didn't achieve what I wanted today but I can't thank the people who've been in my corner through the highs and lows of the last 22 years enough.

"I'm proud of what I've achieved. I hope I've showed women and girls it doesn't matter what shape or size you are - big, small, tall, chunky, there's a place in sport for you. Just go out there and do it."

There was also disappointment for Gregor Miller in the +100kg category.

The 22-year-old from Perth did at least get to fight for bronze, but could not overcome Kody Andrews of New Zealand.

Image source, PA Media

England's Emma Reid showed her resilience to win Commonwealth judo gold in the women's -78kg category, beating Australia's Maria Swan with a cross arm lock.

Reid, 31, retained the title she won in Birmingham four years ago, recovering from conceding an early score and a shido penalty, as she produced an ippon by firmly holding down Swan's arm.

Speaking to Team England, she said: "I knew I could do it. I'm just really relieved and really, really happy. I just had to hold out and be patient.

"The first one, it was just the experience and I was so happy I got gold. This one felt a lot different and a lot of pressure. Team England has been really good in the judo and I'm glad to be a part of that," she added.

After missing out on the 2022 Games with a spinal injury, her England team-mate Max Gregory took silver on his Commonwealth debut after being pushed down by Canada's Kyle Reyes in the men's -100kg final.

"There have been many other injuries along the way - a whole list full of them - but as long as I can keep competing then I'm happy," said Gregory. "Every time I've got injured, I've always returned better."

An early yuko was the difference as England's Shelley Ludford lost out to Zanet Michaelidou of Cyprus in their -78kg bronze-medal contest.

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

It's the final day of competition at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and Team NI still have a few athletes competing.

At the SEC Centre, bowlers Garry Kelly and Adam McKeown are in action in the men's pairs gold medal match as they face England at 09:00 BST.

At the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Matti Dobbins will compete in the qualification for the men's 40km point race at 09:15 and Chirs Burns in the men's C1-3 3000m individual pursuit at 10:15.

Erin Creighton, Emma Jeffers and Esther Wong will go in the women's elimination race qualification at 15:00.

In Judo, Adam Hall will take on Fiji's Gerard Takayawa in the last 16 of the men's +100kg for a place in the quarter-finals at 10:36.

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI Journalist in Glasgow

Image source, Getty Images

It's the penultimate day of action for Team Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games. Here is what is in store on Saturday in Glasgow.

Judo action begins at the SEC Centre and Joshua Green will go in the last 16 of the men's 73kg against Togo's Mattheo Lawson at 11:12 with Rachel Hawkes in the women's 70kg quarter-final against New Zealand's Moira de Villiers at 13:00.

A number of boxers will be going for gold in their various finals. First up is reigning champion Michaela Walsh, who will take on India's Jaismine Jaismine at 11:15 in the women's featherweight.

Kaci Rock will then fight in the women's welterweight final against England's Sacha Hickey at 11:45.

At 13:15, Jon McConnell goes in the men's light-middleweight against Wales' Orlando Holley-Sotomi.

In bowls, Gary Kelly and Adam McKeown are in men's pairs action against Fiji at 11:20.

If they make it through, their semi-final will take place at 19:15.

At the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Matti Dobbins will be in men's 10km scratch race at 11:49 while Erin Creighton, Emma Jeffers and Esther Wong will compete in the women's 25km points race at 15:55.

In athletics, Callum Morgan and Nick Griggs will go in the men's 5000m final at 19:45 at Scotstoun Stadium.

Image source, Getty Images

England's Acelya Toprak overcame India's Yamini Mourya in the women's -57kg judo final to win the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.

In an exhausting bout that went to golden score and lasted almost seven minutes, Toprak eventually forced Mourya into a third shido to claim victory.

The 28-year-old had won silver in 2022 but managed to go one better this time around in Glasgow.

"My last Commonwealth Games went exactly the same way. In the final it was two shidos each, we were into four-and-a-half minutes of extra time and I made that one misstep, over-stretched and got caught," Toprak told BBC Sport.

"So I'm very happy that this time I didn't do that, because that's shattering, that hurts.

"All you're thinking about is get up and go again, get up and go again, and then after I was like 'I like a golden score in the finals, don't I?'

"You're exhausted, someone's trying to throw you on your head for eight minutes and you've just got to get up and go again."

It was an excellent night for England's judo athletes with all five who were in medal contention winning their matches.

Lele Nairne, who was beaten by Toprak in the women's -57kg semi-final, won bronze by ippon with an emphatic throw to the mat to defeat Ghanaian 17-year-old Frema Agyei within just 28 seconds.

"I love throwing people like that," Nairne, 28, said after her victory.

"I love it. It's a bittersweet symphony. Birmingham [2022] was tragic, I lost to a good friend in the bronze medal match, so I wanted to redeem myself.

"I wanted a medal, I wanted a gold, but just to get a medal, I'm absolutely over the moon."

Tatum Keen - Nairne's training partner at Bradley Stoke Judo Club in Bristol - also won bronze in the women's -52kg category.

And in the men's judo, 20-year-old Charlie Ayre and Michael Fryer, 26, claimed bronze in their respective -60kg and -66kg events.

Image source, Team Wales

Millie Bayliss has withdrawn from the Team Wales squad for the 2026 Commonwealth Games because of injury.

Bayliss was one of eight individuals in the judo squad initially selected by Team Wales for the showpiece event in Glasgow.

"I am devastated to be missing Glasgow," said Bayliss.

"It was something I had worked so hard for and dreamed about for a long time, so it is incredibly difficult to accept.

"This is just one chapter in my career and I am determined to recover and come back stronger."

It is the latest withdrawal after weightlifter Maddy Connelly was forced out of Glasgow because of injury.

"We are incredibly disappointed for Millie," said Team Wales chef de mission Gethin Jones.

"To earn selection for a Commonwealth Games is the result of years of hard work, commitment and sacrifice, so to have that opportunity taken away is heart-breaking."

There are now 113 athletes competing for Team Wales with 65 women and 48 men involved in the 10 sports.

Image source, Getty Images

Team NI will have three athletes competing in different judo weight categories in Glasgow.

Rachael Hawkes will be taking part in her second Games in the 70kg after a fifth-place finish in Birmingham four years ago.

Joshua Green is back for his second Games after also achieving a fifth-place finish in 2022 and he will compete in the 73 kg.

Completing the squad is the experienced and decorated Adam Hall, who will make his Commonwealth Games bow in the 100+kg.

He has won the Scottish and Welsh Opens and recently secured a bronze medal at the European Cup in Riga after an eight-year absence from