MBABANE- It was a bruising opening weekend for Eswatini at the Commonwealth Games, as the kingdom’s early contenders suffered setbacks, extending the nation’s 20-year wait for a podium finish.
Not since 2006, when boxer Simanga Shiba captured a bronze medal in Melbourne, has Eswatini managed to claim silverware at the Games. The opening days in Glasgow offered no instant relief, starting in the boxing ring on Friday (July 24, 2026) when Siboniso Vilakati suffered a unanimous 5-0 defeat at the hands of Namibia’s Philip Haoseb in their 55kg round-of-32 clash.
Hopes shifted to the pool on Saturday (July 25, 2026) morning, where swimmers Damien De Sousa and Hayley Hoy took to the lanes for the 50m freestyle and 200m freestyle heats, respectively. Both athletes put up spirited efforts, each touching the wall third in their heats. De Sousa clocked a commendable 24.83 seconds, while Hoy registered a time of 2:18.87. However, despite their solid heat finishes, neither time proved fast enough to secure a spot in the semi-finals and final against a formidable international field.
Yet, all is far from lost for Eswatini. The focus now turns to Australia-based swimmer Siwakhile Dlamini, who steps onto the starting blocks in the 100m freestyle on Sunday (July 26, 2026). Dlamini’s high-level training down under could prove crucial as Eswatini looks to break its frustrating medal drought.
Attention will then shift to the track on Monday (July 27, 2026), where track stars Bongiwe Mahlalela and Mlandvo Maziya are set to take centre stage in the sprint events.
Eswatini’s Commonwealth story is far from over, but with the early cushion gone, the pressure is firmly on the remaining contingent to deliver that elusive piece of silverware.
