Pakistan’s Fatima Zahra made history on Tuesday by becoming the first female boxer from the country to guarantee a medal at the Commonwealth Games. She advanced to the women’s 60kg semi-finals after defeating New Zealand’s Jordan Wilson with a unanimous 5-0 decision.
The 22-year-old dominated the quarter-final bout, with all five judges scoring in her favor. the tournament rules, both losing semi-finalists receive bronze medals, ensuring Pakistan’s first-ever women’s boxing medal at the Commonwealth Games.
Pakistan’s women’s boxing team only made its international debut in 2016. A decade later, Fatima Zahra’s achievement marks a significant milestone as the national flag will be proudly displayed at the women’s 60kg medal ceremony later this week.
Reflecting on her victory, Fatima expressed optimism about the future of boxing in Pakistan. She stated, “We are developing in boxing, and this is a sign that we are moving in the right direction. This is our first step. We are hoping for the gold as well, and this medal will mean a lot for Pakistan boxing.”
Fatima controlled the three-round contest from the start. Four judges scored the fight 29-28 in her favor, while one judge gave her a clear 30-27 win. She is now set to face Canada’s Marie-Bathoul Al-Ahmadieh in Friday’s semi-final, with a spot in the gold medal match at stake.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s men’s boxing campaign concluded after Qudratullah was eliminated in the 60kg category by Northern Ireland’s Jude Gallagher. Gallagher, the reigning Commonwealth Games 57kg champion, dominated the bout from the beginning, winning the opening round on all five judges’ scorecards.
Qudratullah was penalized a point in the second round for repeatedly lowering his head. Despite a strong effort in the final round, he was unable to overcome the deficit. Gallagher eventually won by split decision, ending Pakistan’s men’s boxing challenge at the Games.
Pakistan also faced setbacks in athletics and swimming. Mohammad Ismail finished 41st out of 46 runners in the men’s 400m heats with a time of 50.60 seconds, failing to qualify for the semi-finals. Swimmer Hamza Asif placed 46th among 70 competitors in the men’s 50m butterfly heats, recording a time of 26.09 seconds and missing out on advancement.
