After more than a week of waiting for their chance to compete, Scotland’s Judoka snatched their opportunity with both hands, with pride-filled performances from four athletes across two weight categories.

Summer Shaw won Scotland’s first Judo medal of the games – a breathtaking bronze – with a trademark arm lock delivering a stunning win by Ippon in front of a home crowd at a debut Commonwealth Games. Tussling with Botho Babutsi, Summer felt out the Botswanan’s weaknesses, before striking with poise to secure her first senior international medal for Scotland.

Summer had booked her place into the semi final of the -48kg section following an excellent opening performance against Ashleigh Barnikel of Wales, but brutally missed out on passage to the Gold Medal match, in Golden Score defeat to Indian Judoka, and eventual Commonwealth Champion, Asmita Dey. Despite the disappointment, Summer pulled through to secure a bronze medal and get Scotland’s Judoka on the medal board in stunning fashion.

Speaking of her success, Summer said: “That’s the best moment of my career so far. I’ve won a few medals when I was younger – I got a bronze at the Youth Olympics and that just left me hungry for more, but that was even more incredible.

“When I got in the position for the arm lock, I knew that a lot of people in the crowd know that it is my favourite move so I could hear them going ‘come on Summer!’ which was absolutely incredible.

“I didn’t feel like there was too much pressure on me because when the 2026 games were first announced there was going to be no Judo so it just presented an unexpected opportunity to come here and give it my all.”

Eva Ewing had a tough time in her opening bout of the day in the same category as Summer, losing by Ippon to Asmita Dey in just under 90 seconds, but gave herself a shot at bronze after coming through the Repechage route with commanding victory over Ashleigh Barnikel.

Full of fighting spirit, Eva battled with grit and determination in the Repechage path Bronze medal match, but ultimately fell to defeat against Katryna Esposito of Malta, leaving Eva with a strong joint fifth place at her first games.

Fan favoruite Aidan Moffat thrilled the home crowd with an excellent opening performance, beating Welshman Joshua Bell by Ippon, before falling short of progression to the semi-finals after a tight tussle with Julien Frascadore (Canada). Going into Repechage full of confidence, Aidan lost by Ippon to Vas Middleton (Australia) in what is his final Judo match.

Speaking of his experience Aidan said: “I left everything out there. I thought today would have maybe gone a wee bit different, but I came and I did my best. I’m going to be celebrating my retirement now, so if you see me kicking about Glasgow, come and say hello!

“I’m 31 now, so I’m no spring chicken, but I’m looking forward to focusing fully on my coaching now and helping to bring through the next generation.”

At the beginning of the day, local lad Neil MacDonald threw for Ippon in the first Judo bout of Glasgow 2026, against opponent Kehinde Aremu. Neil, who is from Cambuslang, just over five miles from the SEC, couldn’t be separated with Round of 16 opponent Michael Fryer in normal time, and was eventually beaten by penalty after nearly 5 minutes of golden score.

Scotland’s Judoka will be back in action on Saturday from 11am, with Daniel Pacitti (Men’s -73kg), Ollie Short (Men’s -73kg), Sunny Doig (Women’s -63kg), Sophie Wood (Women’s -63kg), and Scott Cusack (Men’s -90kg), all in competition.