Katryna Esposito successfully defended the Commonwealth Games bronze she won in Birmingham, taking bronze again in the women’s -48kg at Glasgow 2026, Malta’s only medal of the Games.
Esposito opened with a waza-ari win over Mauritius’ Marie Thomas, then lost a hard-fought eight-minute contest to Canada’s Heidi Quach. In the bronze medal match she took on home favourite Eva Ewing and won by ippon with an armlock.
The Games were a first in Maltese sport: a unified Olympic and Paralympic team, with para powerlifter Nick Mercieca lifting a personal best 120kg on his debut. Gymnast Philippa Busuttil became the first Maltese gymnast to reach a final at these Games, placing sixth on the Balance Beam, just 0.2 off the podium. Weightlifter Roberta Tabone was fifth with a personal best 204kg total, Tenishia Thornton set a national snatch record, and Jared Micallef reached the 800m semi-finals.
In lawn bowls, flag bearer Connie Rixon and her sister Rebecca beat reigning world champions Tonga after losing the first set 10-0, and Shaun Parnis beat Canada’s Ryan Bester in straight sets. “These Games mark a special milestone for Malta as we make our debut in para sport,” said Chef de Mission Dr Lucienne Attard.
