Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Judoka Paula Monta left it late to win Tonga’s only medal of the 2026 Commonwealth Games – a 10th overall podium finish for Pacific islands athletes in Glasgow.
Monta beat Canada’s John Messe A Bessong to claim the bronze medal in the men’s +100kg category on the final day of the Games.
It was Tonga’s first Commonwealth Games medal in 16 years and the first ever in judo.
After advancing through the repechage, Monta held off a late comeback by the Canadian to win 12-11 – one waza-ari and two yuko to one waza-ari and one yuko.
The Tongan powerhouse paid tribute to his family, with mother Lavinia and little brother Siua watching on proudly from stands at the SEC Centre on Sunday (early Monday AEST).
“Obviously because my dad’s back home, it means the world to me that they came here,” said the 21-year-old.
“My parents support me every day.”My mum and my dad have sacrificed a lot for not just me but my siblings as well.
“My judo is just a way of me giving them flowers for all the sacrifices that they’ve done for me.
“I hope me getting a bronze medal for Commonwealth can really let them know that it was worth all the sacrifices they’ve gone through.”
Monta has spent the last two years living and training in Japan, the birthplace of judo.
Next on the agenda is the Los Angeles Olympics.
“Right now all I was thinking about was trying to get a medal for my country,” said Monta.
“Now that I’ve won a bronze, it’s given me a lot of confidence for moving forward.”
Giannis Antoniou from Cyprus beat Australian Kayhan Ozcicek-Takagi with a waza-ari to win the men’s +100kg gold medal.
Also on Sunday, Norfolk Island’s Shae Wilson picked up a bronze in the women’s lawn bowls, beating Malaysia’s Emma Saroji 8-5 8-5 in the third-place playoff.
It was just the third-ever Commonwealth Games medal – all of them coming in lawn bowls – for tiny Norfolk Island, which boats a population of just 2193 people.
Wilson was thrilled to claim a spot on the podium after coming up just short four years ago in Birmingham.
“I’ve been getting messages of encouragement and support all week from everyone at home,” said the 27-year-old.
“Being from such a small community makes it all so much more special.
“And you know, obviously there’ll be a bit of hunger there for future Commonwealth Games.”
English bowler Katherine Rednall beat Ali Merrien from Guernsey to win gold in the women’s singles.
Six of the 10 medals won by Pacific islands athletes in Glasgow came in the weightlifting, including golds to Samoan Seine Stowers and Fiji’s Taniela Rainibogi.
SEVEN PACIFIC ISLAND NATIONS WERE REPRESENTED ON THE PODIUM IN GLASGOW
Samoa – one gold, one silver
Fiji – one gold, one bronze
Nauru – two bronze
Norfolk Island – one bronze
Papua New Guinea – one bronze
Tonga – one bronze
Tuvalu – one bronze
