By Gary Anderson

Ghana's Emmanuel Nartey is aiming to become the first African judoka to medal at a Commonwealth Games ©AFP/Getty ImagesGhana's Emmanuel Nartey is aiming to leave his mark at Glasgow 2014 by becoming the first judo athlete from Africa to claim a Commonwealth Games medal as he makes his return to the Games following Manchester 2002.

Nartey competed in Manchester the last time the sport was on the Games programme and is heading to Glasgow as the highest ranked athlete in the world from a Commonwealth country.

He is currently ranked at number 29 in the under 73 kilogram category.

But Nartey, who serves in the British Army, is not getting ahead of himself and knows that competition at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) will be tough.

"Some people have said I should win it on paper but judo is a very complex sport," said Nartey.

"I am one of the contenders for the medals.

"I won't let that distract me, though.

"I need to go there focused on the day and make sure everything is perfect."

The 30-year-old has already created history by becoming the first judoka from Ghana to compete at an Olympics when he appeared at London 2012.

He is excited to be competing in front of British audiences again after getting a taste of the atmosphere in London and is confident that the experience in Glasgow this summer will be on a similar scale.

"I'm 100 per cent sure the organisation of the Games in Glasgow will be perfect, just like the Olympics were in London," said Nartey, who trains at the University of Bath under coach Juergen Klinger.

"It's a very exciting environment, living in the same Games Village as athletes from lots of other sports.

"It's not something judo players have the opportunity to experience very often."

At London 2012 Nartey (blue) became the first judo athlete from Ghana to appear at an Olympic Games ©AFP/Getty ImagesAt London 2012 Nartey (blue) became the first judo athlete from Ghana to appear at an Olympic Games ©AFP/Getty Images



The Ghanaian is about to start a PhD in Economics at the University of West England, studying global financial markets but revealed that he is targeting a second Olympic Games appearance at Rio 2016.

"I'm coming towards the end of my career and I want to end everything as strongly as I can," he added.

"I want to leave a long-lasting legacy."

Judo will be making its third appearance at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow following Auckland 1990 and Manchester 2002.

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