Katryna Esposito strengthened her reputation as one of Malta’s leading athletes after securing a bronze medal in the women’s -48kg judo category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Esposito produced a decisive performance in her bronze-medal contest against Scotland’s Eva Ewing, winning by Ippon to claim a second successive Commonwealth Games bronze medal.

The result sees Esposito repeat her third-place finish from the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where she also stood on the podium in the -48kg category.

Speaking after the competition, Esposito described the achievement as the result of years of dedication, sacrifice and perseverance. She said that returning to the podium was a source of pride, particularly because of the support she had received throughout her journey.

“Representing Malta and bringing home another medal is always a huge honour,” Esposito said.

The Maltese judoka explained that the medal was the product of months of intensive preparation, including several training camps abroad. She said these experiences had helped her broaden her knowledge of the sport while keeping her focused on her longer-term ambition of representing Malta at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The road to Glasgow had been demanding. Esposito said she had trained almost every day, often twice daily, combining technical judo sessions with strength and conditioning work and recovery, while also balancing her studies and employment. She moved to Rome in early 2025 as part of her preparations.

She also expressed her appreciation for the assistance received from the Maltese Olympic Committee and SportMalta.

Regular participation on the international circuit has also been an important part of Esposito’s development, giving her the opportunity to compete against high-level opponents and collect valuable ranking points as she targets qualification for Los Angeles 2028.

“Every competition, whether I won or lost, was an opportunity to improve and continue to build on my experiences,” she said.

While delighted with the bronze medal, Esposito admitted to feeling some disappointment at not going further in the competition. Her frustration was heightened by the fact that she had previously defeated India’s Ismita Dey, who went on to win the gold medal, when Esposito claimed gold at the 2024 Commonwealth Judo Championship.

“I do feel I could have gone all the way,” Esposito said, while acknowledging that she had nevertheless managed to secure another Commonwealth Games medal.

Looking beyond Glasgow, Esposito was reluctant to discuss specific short-term targets but hopes her continued efforts can encourage the next generation of Maltese athletes.

“I do not want to sound presumptuous in thinking that I can inspire others,” she said. “All I hope for is that by working hard, I will encourage the next generation to dedicate themselves to their passions and give it their all.”