Glasgow 2014: All six Scots in judo medal contests

A SUPERB opening session at the judo saw all six of Team Scotland’s members who fought at the SECC make it through to tonight’s medal contests.

Kimberley Renicks of Scotland beats Marcelle Monabang of Cameroon (blue) in the Women's 48kg Judo Quarter Finals. Picture: Getty

Sisters Kimberley and Louise Renicks and Stephanie Inglis will fight for gold and silver medals while John Buchanan, James Millar and Connie Ramsay are going for bronze in packed and raucous Hall 3 at the SECC.

Kimberley Renicks became the first Scottish judoka to ensure a gold or silver medal with two powerhouse performances.

Renicks will face Shushila Likmabam of India in tonight’s final of the under-48kgs category after taking a stranglehold, quite literally, on the competition.

John Buchanan of Scotland celebrates beating Dominic Agudoo of Ghana in the Men's Judo 60kg repecharge. Picture: Getty

Using Shime-waza, or strangulation technique, in her first contest Renicks defeated Marcelle Monabang of Cameroon who actually became unconscious before the referee awarded the winning score of ippon to the Scot. Monabang recovered and indeed won her repechage.

In her semi-final, Renicks was already ahead before she pounced on Ono-Obasi Okey of Barbados. Again she applied the stranglehold and ippon was awarded.

Not long after Kimberley reached the final, her sister Louise emulated the feat by winning her semi-final in the under-52kgs category, beating Kalpana Thoudam of India. She will face Kelly Edwards of England in tonight’s final.

Other excellent Scottish progress during the morning was achieved by Stephanie Inglis who reached the final of the under-57kgs where she will meet Nekoda Davis of England.

James Millar lost out in the semi-final in the under-66kgs category to Colin Oates of England who is favourite for gold. Millar will go for bronze later.

Even the Scots who lost their initial bouts came through in the end. After beating Pascal Laurent of Mauritius, John Buchanan was beaten by England’s Ashley McKenzie in the quarter-final of the under 60kgs category, but performed brilliantly in the repechage against Dominic Agudoo of Ghana to gain a place in the bronze medal play-off.

Connie Ramsay also surprisingly lost to Canada’s Jessica Klimkait in her opening under 57 kgs contest, but came back strongly to beat Kirsty Powell of Wales by submission in the repechage, and Ramsay, too, will contest the bronze medal match.

So Scotland have three finalists and three bronze medal contestants already with medals of all three colours looking likely – and that’s just the opening day of the judo.