Pakistan’s Fatima Zahra has become the country’s first-ever female boxer to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games after defeating New Zealand’s Jordan Wilson in the women’s 60kg quarter-final.
The 22-year-old dominated the contest, earning a unanimous 5-0 points victory to book her place in the semi-finals and guarantee at least a bronze medal, as both losing semi-finalists receive bronze under the tournament format.
The achievement marks a major milestone for Pakistan’s women’s boxing program, which only made its international debut in 2016.
While expressing job in her accomplishment, Fatima said her ultimate goal remains winning gold.
She controlled the three-round bout from start to finish, with four judges scoring it 29-28 and the fifth awarding her a convincing 30-27 victory. Fatima will now face Canada’s Marie-Bathoul Al-Ahmadieh in Friday’s semi-final for a place in the gold medal match.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s men’s campaign came to an end after Qudratullah suffered a split-decision defeat to Northern Ireland’s Commonwealth champion Jude Gallagher in the 60kg division.
Gallagher controlled much of the contest, overcoming a spirited late challenge from Qudratullah to eliminate Pakistan’s final male boxer from the competition.
