Rittmuller gets Team SA off to smooth winning start

The countdown clock has hit zero and the Commonwealth Games exploded into life in Glasgow on Thursday.

Team SA made their entrance after Sierra Leona and before Eswatini at the opening ceremony. They were the 37th nation to parade, exactly halfway through the order. When they did emerge, the smiles on their faces were evidence of what this meant to them. Bridget Herselman carried South Africa’s flag, while Shane Williams was the batonbearer. For both, this was to be one of the most unforgettable moments of their lives.

The 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games were official declared open inside a vibrant Hydro arena, the first time the event has been held indoors in Games history. England were the first nation to parade, hosts Scotland the 74th and South Africa in the middle.

Lawn bowls’ Herselman had joked that “it’s a big, heavy flag to carry but I’ve got the muscles”, when told of her appointment. She spoke of the “privilege” and “honour” of the task but was determined to soak up the atmosphere in what is already her second Commonwealth Games at the age of 28.

Williams is the country’s wheelchair basketball player and showcases his talent in Spain’s la Liga, one of the top leagues in the world. He described the talk of being Team SA’s batonbearer as “a huge honour … a very emotional time and to be part of the whole thing was amazing”.

On what lies ahead on the court. Williams said: “Building up to these Games, we’ve been preparing hard and we’ve putting in the hours. We are now happy the time has arrived and representing Team SA is exciting. There are a lot of emotions. I want to wish all the Team SA athletes good luck for the Games. Let’s go out there and bring back hope.”

More than 3 000 athletes from 74 nations and territories will compete across 10 sports and six Para sports.

During the pre-show ahead of the opening ceremony in Glasgow, unicorn mascot Finnie entertained the crowd, and Scottish wrestler Grado made an appearance in a teacake costume.

The show then began with a clip of Doctor Who’s famous telephone box going on a journey around Scotland before the Tardis materialised onstage at the Hydro. King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived, as did new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

Wayne Rittmuller got Team SA’s 2026 Commonwealth Games campaign off to the perfect start when he won his opening Lawn Bowls men’s singles match at the indoor SEC Hall venue in Glasgow on Thursday.

Rittmuller was the first athlete from Team SA in competition and he settled quickly to see off Harriman Yuen, of Singapore 9-0, 7-4 in their Section B encounter. He next faces Mitchell Graham of Norfolk, who received a bye in his opening game.

The only other action on Thursday was in the Women’s Pairs where Thabelo Muvhango and Jacqui Janse van Rensburg lost their Section B match on a one-end tie-break. They squandered a 4-0 first set lead after a fast start, but went on to lose to their Tonga opponents Paris Baker and Milika Nathan 4-7, 7-1 (0-3).

The 44-year-old Rittmuller picked up two shots at the the third and fifth end to breeze to a 9-0 opening set win and quickly went 3-0 up at the first end of the second set. He stretched that lead to 6-2 after five ends and was 7-2 up with one end remaining.

“It’s my second Commonwealth Games and I was nervous early on but after the first two ends I settled down and started playing like I can,” he told Team SA’s David van der Sandt.

“I’ve played quite a bit indoors overseas but you’ve still got to get used to it as it’s a little quicker than what we experience but I’m loving it and the new set up. It’s quite a tough section, but I managed to get off to the better start and once I found my length I just kept it going, It’s going to be a tough section with New Zealand and Ireland in it, but I’m going to be doing my best.”

Friday’s schedule sees boxing, gymnastics, lawn bowls, para bowls, swimming and wheelchair basketball all take centre stage.