Atkinson gives Jamaica its first medal at 2018 Commonwealth Games

Jamaica has entered the medal table at the Commonwealth Games at 13th following Alia Atkinson’s silver medal finish in the women's 50 metre breaststroke final on Friday in Australia. Atkinson clocked 30.76 seconds for the silver behind England's Sarah Vassey who posted 30.60 to win.

29 year old Atkinson will next be in action on Saturday in the heats of the 50m butterfly. She is also slated to contest the 100 metre breast stroke at the Games. Meanwhile, the Sunshine Girls made it two from two in Pool ‘A’ of the netball competition, turning back South Africa 56-47.

Jhanielle Fowler Reid led the Jamaicans with 29 goals from 31 attempts while Shanice Beckford had 15 from 20 and Romelda Aiken 13 from 16. The Sunshine Girls had easily dispatched of Fiji 88-30 in their opening encounter. They will next be in action on Sunday against Caribbean neighbours Barbados. 

Elsewhere on the day, squash players Chris Binnie and Lewis Planter lost their respective round of 16 singles matches. Jamaican number one Binnie lost 3-0 to Joel Makin of Wales while compatriot Planter also went down 3-0 to Australia's Cameron Pillay. 

In badminton, Anthony McNee and Alana Bailey bounced back from Thursday's heavy defeats to Singapore and Mauritius to inflict a heavy defeat of their own, beating Zambia 5-0 in the mixed team group play. Meanwhile, in the lawn bowls competition, Jamaica was beaten 28-6 by South Africa in round three and 33-4 in round four action by Wales in the men's pair event.

In the meantime, sprinter Julian Forte has withdrawn from the Games due to injury and will be returning home for treatment. Forte was scheduled to contest the 100 metres and sprint relay.