Boxer Fatima Zahra writes a new chapter in Pakistan women's boxing
The 22-year-old stormed into the Commonwealth Games semifinal and confirm a bronze medal for her country
Fatima Zahra wrote a new chapter in history as the first Pakistani woman boxer to secure a medal at the Commonwealth Games, as she defeated New Zealand’s Jordan Wilson 5-0 on points in a dominant way on July 28.
The 22-year-old hails from the small city of Sargodha in Punjab, and she had been carrying the responsibility to secure at least one boxing medal for the country in Glasgow, as all the other boxers in the squad were not able to get past the round of 16.
Even if she loses in the semifinal she will bag a bronze medal.
With her win, she hit three main feats:
She became the first Pakistani woman in boxing to secure a medal.
She also became the first boxer in 12 years to take a medal for Pakistan at the Games- the last time it was 2014 when Muhammad Waseem grabbed a silver medal.
She also opened the count for Pakistan at the 2026 Games, as no other Pakistani athlete has reached the point where they are eligible for a medal in Glasgow yet.
“Alhamdulillah (Thanks to Allah), I am feeling incredibly proud of this achievement,” Faitma Zahra told Lost on the Desk right after her quarterfinal bout in Glasgow, where she was fighting in blue trunks. This is her second historic feat, as she also became the first Pakistani to win a boxing medal at the Islamic Solidarity Games in November 2025.
“I have worked so hard for this medal, for the Commonwealth Games, for the last few months.
“I am just grateful to Allah that He has blessed me with this win and He has given me this honour to represent my country in the best way possible.”
Fatima is eyeing another win in the semifinal on July 31 where she will meet Canada’s Marie-Bathoul Al-Ahmadieh.
Earlier, Fatima defeated Lesotho’s Raeleboha Segoete 5-0 in the round of 16.
This is the second time Pakistan fielded a woman boxer at the Games. The last time it was Mehreen Baloch, who lost in the preliminaries.
Meanwhile, Pakistan team manager and the Pakistan Boxing Federation Secretary Major Irfan Younis added that the win has meant everything for the entire boxing squad.
“I don’t have words even; it is difficult to explain what we’re feeling right now as we’ve just witnessed this win,” Younis told Lost on the Desk from Glasgow right after the bout. He was crying out of joy and was overwhelmed with emotion when he spoke about the win.
Younis has played a crucial role in Fatima’s career. He picked her for the Army departmental team from Pakistan Air Force.
He gave Fatima the confidence to represent the country at the international events, including Paris Olympics qualifiers, Asian Games and Islamic Solidarity Games.
“Allah has been kind to us for this success; we are now looking to the next bout, where we have a chance to produce an even better result in the semifinal.”
Younis believed in her ability to translate her wins at the domestic level into international events.
Fatima is the eight-time national champion since 2021, when she made her comeback to boxing after she had quit because of social pressure.
She was ostracised by family, friends and relatives for pursuing a career in boxing.
“I had quit boxing for one and a half years,” Fatima had told Lost on the Desk in an interview earlier. “It was the most depressing time of my life. I would go out at 2 am to train and run on an open field in front of my house, so that people didn’t see me train.
“They would make such cutting remarks because I was doing what I wanted to do. Boxing is still perceived as a sport for men. But as a Pakistani woman, I have learned that we need to fight for every small thing that we want.”
Fatima began boxing in 2018, when she saw the sport during her summer vacations.
Watching her passion for boxing grow, her father, who himself is an athlete as a karate black belt, took her to a local academy, owned by former national boxer Raheel Adnan.
Adnan gave her all the necessary things she needed, such as gloves, shoes, headgear, and attire to begin training properly, and within a few months Fatima was ready to fight in local events.
“I am just astounded at her performance,” Adnan told Lost on the Desk from Sargodha. He too was clearly overjoyed and excited like Younis. “She has done it. I am so overwhelmed at these results that I am really unable to speak right now.
“But I am very glad she concentrated on gaining points instead of trying to knock her opponent down.”
Earlier, Adnan had said that Fatima was always dedicated to the sport as a child, and has the same drive even after becoming an elite boxer.
“I have never seen any boxer as dedicated as her; she is extremely self-driven. As she trained with me even on Eidul Azha, even though it was her day off from the national camp, she came and trained so she wouldn’t lose her motivation or lack in fitness in any way,” said Adnan.
Trick to raise her confidence before the fight
Fatima is self-driven and takes initiatives to better her performances. But she cannot do that unless she remains mentally strong.
When asked what she does to boost her confidence before her bouts, she said that mostly she listens to patriotic songs to get into the spirit. Often she would imagine herself as the victor, as a figure that has won a battle for her country, because ultimately, boxing, for her, is a way to serve her nation.
“This ritual helps me and gives me at least 80 percent of the confidence I need to perform,” said Fatima, mischievously.
But in all fairness, looking back at her performance, she feels that moving up to the 60 kg weight class made a huge difference for her as opposed to the previous 57kg.
Fatima is a tall girl by Pakistani standards, standing at 5 feet 6 inches; shedding weight to 57 kg had been an added struggle in the ring for her.
“My natural weight is 60 kg upwards, and at times competing in 57 kg events made me weak, be it national or international, but when I competed in 60 kg, I felt good, I felt like myself, and I feel I can turn this bronze medal from the Islamic Games to a gold medal in the international events to come if I can get more support from the government,” reflected Fatima.
You can read her full profile here.