In an impressive start to their Commonwealth Games campaigns, Pakistani boxers Afzal Khan and Fatima Zehra showcased their skills with dominant performances at the SEC Centre in Glasgow on Friday. Their victories not only marked a successful beginning for the team but also set a positive tone for Pakistan's boxing efforts in the competition.
Afzal Khan delivered the first victory for Pakistan, decisively defeating Jovanie Bouzin from Seychelles in a one-sided contest in the 65kg category. The orthodox boxer displayed a composed and strategic approach throughout the match, earning a unanimous decision from all five judges.
In the opening round, Afzal adopted a cautious strategy, carefully selecting his shots while Bouzin attempted to apply aggressive pressure. Despite the Seychellois fighter's efforts, Afzal's superior accuracy and cleaner punches earned him the round on four of the five judges' scorecards. As the bout progressed, Afzal increased his tempo, effectively closing the distance and pinning Bouzin against the ropes.
Although Bouzin managed to land a straight right hand that briefly troubled Afzal, the Pakistani fighter maintained his composure, countering effectively and landing significant blows. The second round saw all judges scoring in favor of Afzal, who continued to dominate the exchanges.
In the final round, Bouzin, trailing by two rounds, came out aggressively but was met with Afzal's deft head movement and growing confidence. Afzal's dominance culminated in a crisp left hook that sent Bouzin to the canvas, prompting the referee to administer a standing count. This victory secured Afzal a place in the round-of-16, boosting his confidence as he progresses in the tournament.
Fatima Zehra continued the success for Pakistan in the women's 50kg category, delivering a commanding performance against Realeboha Segoete of Lesotho. The 22-year-old boxer knocked her opponent down three times across two rounds, leading to an early stoppage by the referee.
Fatima's first knockdown came in the opening round, where she controlled the fight, although she was unable to finish the contest. Nonetheless, she convincingly won the round on all five judges' scorecards. The second round proved to be crucial, as Fatima struck early with another knockdown and followed up with a third at the 2:35 mark, prompting the referee to halt the bout and declare her the winner.
While the boxing team celebrated their victories, other Pakistani athletes faced challenges in their respective events. In swimming, Jehanara Nabi competed in the women’s 50m butterfly, finishing her heat in a time of 29.99 seconds, which placed her 40th overall among 52 swimmers, well outside the qualification for the semi-finals. Similarly, Ahmad Durrani in the men’s 200m individual medley finished 17th overall with a time of 2:09.79, falling short of the top-eight qualification mark.
In lawn bowls, Ayub Qureshi suffered a setback in his men’s singles opener, losing 2-0 to Ross Owen of Wales. Owen dominated the match, winning the first end 12-5 and completing a commanding 17-0 victory in the second end.
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