Scotland at the Commonwealth Games

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at SEC Centre

Image source, SNS

Jason Banks recorded Team Scotland's first win at Glasgow 2026 as he defeated Robert Simpson from Jamaica in straight sets in his opening group game of the bowls men's singles.

Former world indoor champion, Banks, stormed to a 10-2, 8-5 win on the portable rink at the SEC Centre.

Despite losing a one in both of the first two ends of the first set, the 30-year-old from Inverurie scored in the remaining five for a comfortable win as he found his groove in front of a passionate home support.

Simpson though started the much better of the pair in the second set, with the 67-year-old leading 5-1 after four ends.

But Banks clawed back with a momentum-boosting three in the fifth end to move to just one shot back with two to go.

The pair were peeled going into the last after the Scot picked up a tight one in the sixth - so close the umpire required calipers - and he made the most of picking the jack length of his choice, securing a match-winning three in the last end.

Banks faces Glasgow-based Mohammed 'Chico' Qureshi of Pakistan - who lost in straight sets against Wales - on Friday in his second Group C game (16:45 BST).

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sam Hickey hopes Scotland's new generation of amateur fighters don't go "jumping the gun and turning pro too early".

Hickey was one of the Team Scotland headline makers at the last Games, winning middleweight gold in Birmingham four years ago.

He will have a keen eye on how the 11 home fighters selected this time round fare in the ring at the SEC Centre in Glasgow over the coming days.

"Go out there, impress, box the way you box," Hickey told BBC Scotland.

"I know all the Scotland squad that will be going to the games, so they all know the score.

"They have been around and I am sure they look at the previous squads and want to do the same thing."

Hickey turned professional two years ago and the 26-year-old Dundonian has gone on to win all five of his fights so far in the paid ranks.

Patience appears to be his message to those harbouring dreams of following in his footsteps.

"And the future generations, the next crop of fighters coming through, just don't be jumping the gun and turning pro too early," Hickey added.

"Make sure you stay amateur, get your fundamentals and stuff and try and get to a Commonwealth Games and try and get to an Olympic Games.

'That got taken away from me with the weight category, try and get to an Olympic games, be the first [Scottish] boxer to go to an Olympic games since Josh Taylor in 2012.

"That will open a lot of doors for any Scottish fighter, even more doors than what a Glasgow gold or a Birmingham gold would give you.

"So I would advise any boxer with some sort of ambition in boxing to try and aim for the top - Olympic gold, Commonwealth gold, European gold."