Fijian boxer makes history with Commonwealth Games medal win

Fiji's Jasmine Daunakamakama has etched her name in history by securing at least a bronze medal in women's boxing at the Commonwealth Games. The debutante became the first woman to represent Fiji in boxing at the Games and guaranteed a medal after defeating veteran Sri Lankan boxer Keshani Hansika in a split-decision quarter-final bout.

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I’m super-proud of her.

Daunakamakama's triumph is a testament to her rapid development in the sport. Her coach, Cameron Todd, expressed immense pride, noting that Daunakamakama, with only three years of experience, managed to defeat Hansika, who has over 100 professional bouts. This victory echoes a past event eight years ago when Todd's ex-wife, Alex Pritchard, also representing New Zealand, defeated Hansika in a similar quarter-final match.

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Every step I take, my dream becomes more real. It’s quite overwhelming. I’ve dreamed about this since I was 10. My younger self would be so proud.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Daunakamakama described the moment as a dream come true. "Every step I take, my dream becomes more real. It’s quite overwhelming," she said, adding that her younger self would be incredibly proud. She emphasized that her journey has been driven by internal motivation rather than superficial goals, focusing on her performance and truthfulness in the ring.

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It’s pretty wild … I didn’t want to aim for superficial goals. This whole journey has been driven from my internal state and how truthful I can be when I step into the ring, how well I can perform.

Her path to this historic medal was not without challenges. Last year, Daunakamakama was unable to compete at the world championships due to a controversial delay in gender testing results for her and other Fijian athletes. Despite this setback, she persevered, and the roaring crowd during her quarter-final match underscored the significant support she has garnered for her campaign. She acknowledged the crucial role of her loved ones, her boxing family, and supporters worldwide in her success.

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It wouldn’t be possible without my loved ones and my boxing family, my friends all around the Pacific, all around the world.