WEST FIFE judo stars Fiona Todman and Emma Forrest helped Team Scotland make a flying start at the Commonwealth Youth Games by winning two superb silver medals.
The Destination Judo Club duo were in action during the first day of competition at the event in Nassau, Bahamas, on Tuesday as the sport made its Commonwealth Youth Games debut.
Emma, 16, and Fiona, 17, were two of six judoka selected to fight for Scotland and they enjoyed a trip to remember as they picked up two of three opening day medals on the mat.
Todman, competing in the girls’ -48kg category, began her journey to the final by seeing off Cypriot Sofia Asvesta in the quarter-final before getting the better of the hosts’ Jasmine Russell in the last four.
That set up a final with England’s Sian Bobrowska but, despite being unable to make it three wins from three, she will return home with a memorable silver.
Afterwards she said: “Obviously, I am a bit gutted to have lost the final but it has been an amazing experience. The Bahamas have put on a brilliant event and the atmosphere out there was incredible. Not many people can say they are a Commonwealth Youth Games Medallist and that is a really special feeling.”
She was soon joined on the podium by Forrest, who was competing in the girls’ -57kg event.
India’s Rebina Devi Chanam was the first to fall in the last eight by a golden score before she then took on another athlete from the host nation, Mya Beneby, and became Scotland’s second finalist of the competition.
It was another English athlete who stood in the way of a gold medal but, like Todman, she was forced to settle for silver after losing out to Leah Kaye Grosvenor.
The pair can now watch their team-mates battle for medals and yesterday (Wednesday) saw the boxing events begin, which should have included Kelty’s Craig Morgan, but he suffered disappointment as he was forced to withdraw through injury.
Pitreavie AAC hurdler Bethany McAndrew begins her bid for glory today when the athletics events begin.
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