Web Desk: Fatima Zahra became the country’s first woman boxer to guarantee a medal at the Commonwealth Games after defeating New Zealand’s Jordan Wilson in the women’s 60kg quarterfinal on Tuesday, marking a milestone for Pakistan’s women’s boxing program.
The 22-year-old advanced to the semifinals with a unanimous 5-0 decision, with all five judges scoring the contest in her favor. Under Commonwealth Games boxing rules, both losing semifinalists receive bronze medals, ensuring Zahra will leave the competition with at least a bronze.
The victory marks a significant breakthrough for Pakistan’s women’s boxing team, which made its international debut in 2016. Nearly a decade later, Pakistan is now assured of its first podium finish in women’s boxing at the Commonwealth Games.
“We are progressing in boxing, and this is a sign that we are moving in the right direction,” Zahra said after the bout. “This is our first step. We are also hopeful of winning the gold medal, and it would be a very important achievement for Pakistani boxing.”
Zahra controlled the three-round contest from start to finish. Four judges awarded her the fight 29-28, while the fifth scored it 30-27.
She will now face Canada’s Mary Beth Al Ahmadieh in Friday’s semifinal, with victory sending her into the gold medal bout.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s men’s boxing campaign ended without a medal after Qudratullah lost to Northern Ireland’s Jude Gallagher in the men’s 60kg division.
Gallagher, the Birmingham Commonwealth Games gold medalist in the 57kg category, made a strong start with effective left hooks and straight right hands against the southpaw Pakistani boxer.
Although Qudratullah landed several clean punches during the contest, Gallagher controlled the opening round on all five judges’ scorecards. The Pakistani boxer faced further difficulty in the second round after being penalized one point for repeatedly lowering his head.
Needing a decisive finish, Qudratullah increased the pressure in the final round with combinations to the body and head. However, Gallagher effectively used movement and ring control to neutralize the attacks before securing a split-decision victory.
Following the announcement, a visibly disappointed Qudratullah dropped to his knees in the ring.
Pakistan also endured disappointment in athletics and swimming.
Muhammad Ismail finished 41st among 46 competitors in the men’s 400-meter heats, clocking 50.60 seconds. His time was nearly three seconds slower than his performance at the National Games and well outside the top 16 required to advance.
In swimming, Hamza Asif failed to reach the semifinals of the men’s 50-meter butterfly. He finished 46th out of 70 swimmers with a time of 26.09 seconds, ending Pakistan’s challenge in the event.
Despite setbacks in other disciplines, Zahra’s achievement represents a landmark moment for Pakistani sport and women’s boxing. Her guaranteed medal is expected to provide fresh momentum for the country’s women’s boxing program and inspire greater investment in female athletes ahead of future international competitions.
All eyes will now turn to Friday’s semifinal, where Zahra will attempt to become the first Pakistani woman boxer to reach a Commonwealth Games gold medal final.
Read more: Pakistani ports emerge as central Asia’s new trade gateway
