{
  "id": 27604,
  "title": "Ekuta ends 24-year Judo medal wait",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/ekuta-ends-24-year-judo-medal-wait",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-02T01:08:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/ekuta-ends-24-year-judo-medal-wait/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nigerian judoka Enku Ekuta has finally fulfilled a 24-year dream by winning bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. She secured the medal in the women’s -63kg category on Saturday, emerging victorious over Zambia’s Rita Kabinda by ippon. The bronze medal marks Nigeria’s first in judo at the Commonwealth Games since 2002, effectively ending a prolonged period of disappointment for the sport in the country. Ekuta’s achievement comes after she rallied through the repechage phase following a quarter-final loss. Her success signals a significant milestone for Nigerian judo, which had long faced challenges in converting domestic talent into Commonwealth stage medals despite nurturing several promising athletes. The victory is expected to inspire renewed investment in grassroots judo development and athlete welfare. The performance of Nigerian athletes at Glasgow, including triumphs in athletics, weightlifting, swimming, and para sports, underscored a strong campaign for Team Nigeria.",
  "summary": "Enku Ekuta makes history, ending Nigeria’s 24-year wait for a Judo medal at the Commonwealth Games. Discover her bronze medal win in Glasgow. Read More: https://punchng.com/ekuta-ends-24-year-judo-medal-wait/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}