MBABANE – Eswatini’s finest athletes take centre stage at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games this morning.
There is a thrilling lineup of track and boxing action set to command the nation’s attention. Leading the charge on the synthetic track is Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) star Mlandvo Maziya, who opens his 100-metre campaign at 11am in round one. Maziya faces a formidable challenge in heat two, lining up alongside Ghana’s national record holder Abdul Rasheed Saminu. Saminu, who clocked an impressive 10.01 seconds in Budapest last year ahead of South Africa’s Akani Simbine, provides a world-class benchmark for the Eswatini sprinter.
Joining the track action in heat 10 is fellow countryman Thandaza Zwane. Zwane’s heat features Nigeria’s Fakorede Nicholas Adekalu, a formidable contender who recently smashed the sub-10 barrier with a personal best of 9.98 seconds at his national trials.
In the women’s 100m, all eyes will be on Eswatini’s fastest woman, Bongiwe Mahlalela. Competing in heat seven, Mahlalela, who is holding a personal best of 11.53 seconds, will test her mettle against elite international talent, including Australia’s Georgia Harris and Canada’s Olympic veteran Sadé McCreath, who recently set a Canadian record of 10.86 seconds in Edmonton.
Beyond the track, the Kingdom’s fighting spirit will be on full display in the ring. Boxer Mukelo Dlamini steps into SEC Hall 5 for a high-stakes Round of 16 clash against Zambia’s Albert Ngulube in the Men’s 60kg division. Having proudly carried the King’s Baton last week, Dlamini now carries the hopes and momentum of an entire nation into what promises to be a fierce encounter.
It is set to be an action-packed morning in Scotland as Eswatini’s elite aim to make their mark on the global stage.
