Fiji Amateur Boxing Association

Breaking barriers, making history JASMINE Daunakamakama says winning a historic Commonwealth Games boxing medal was an overwhelming experience after years of dedication, sacrifice and resilience. Daunakamakama became the first Fijian […]

Look who stopped by the LegendFM studio today. Pheodora and Victoria were super excited to meet Bronze medalist at the Commonwealth games Jasmine Daunakamakama

Fiji’s 57kg boxer Jasmine Daunakamakama made history at the Commonwealth Games, showing composure, discipline, and strength of character in the ring. Through her performance and heartfelt interviews, she represented Fiji with clarity and pride. As the first female boxer to compete for Fiji at this level, she will now also be remembered as the first Fijian female boxer to win a Commonwealth Games medal.

Jasmine’s Commonwealth Games journey has been defined by grit and focus. At just 21 years old, with only 23 fights to her name, she competed in a sport where women have historically had fewer opportunities. While Fiji has a proud boxing history, boxing is still considered a 'minor' sport now that rugby 15s and 7s take a big slice of the sporting dollar. She faced older and far more experienced boxers, many over a decade in the sport and more than 100 fights behind them. On paper, Jasmine was the underdog in a field that included world-class finalists Michaela Walsh (Northern Ireland) and Jaismine Lamboria (India), who both have multiple Olympic, World Championships and Commonwealth Games appearances between them. In the ring, however, she proved she belonged and gave the Irish lass a ‘run’ for her medal.

Fiji is facing the negative effects of increasing non-communicable diseases, alongside HIV rates that are at epidemic levels. The government is working hard to minimise the impact of these social issues, and sport can play an important role. Over time, boxing has shown that it can give young people structure, confidence, and purpose by building personal discipline and commitment to a positive lifestyle. In a Pacific context where opportunities for women in boxing have historically been limited, Jasmine’s bronze medal will encourage more young boxers to step forward and pursue the Olympic dream. In doing so, her success can help shift attention at the grassroots level from negative social statistics toward positive choices, opportunity, and hope.

Jasmine’s achievement is a powerful example of transformative gender equality. She has challenged rigid social norms that limit what women and girls are expected to do, particularly in a space where female representation has historically been limited. Jasmine was already helping to shift that conversation, but her bronze medal gives it national and regional visibility. Her success gives young women from Fiji and beyond a visible example of what is possible when they step into spaces where they have not traditionally been expected to lead.

The Oceania Olympic region includes some of the smallest nations in the world. Jasmine arrived at the Commonwealth Games alongside female boxers from across the Pacific, including athletes from nations represented by women in boxing for the first time at the Games: PNG, Tuvalu, Niue, and Samoa. Tuvalu boxer Tarona Taafaki also made a podium finish with a bronze medal.

Both young women’s journeys have encouraged athletes to keep working hard and to trailblaze for their own countries. Regional unity was especially visible at their quarter-final and semi-final bouts, where our Pacific Warriors were supported not only by Fiji, but by athletes and supporters from Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Niue, and New Zealand. Together, they formed a wall of support along the athlete walk-out area, demonstrating a powerful sense of solidarity that will continue to strengthen boxing across the region and internationally.

Jasmine’s medal should now be treated as a starting point, not just a landmark result. With targeted support from national sporting bodies, sponsors, schools, and community programmes, boxing can become a stronger pathway for young people across Fiji and neighbouring island countries.

Jasmine is an outstanding young woman with a bright future. Whether she seeks the spotlight or not, she has already become a powerful ambassador for boxing and for the role sport can play in strengthening communities. Her composure, leadership, and Commonwealth Games breakthrough make her a compelling example of what a ‘can-do’ attitude can achieve, and we hope Fiji businesses will get on board to sponsor a sport that builds discipline, confidence, and opportunity.

Financial support does more than fund a boxing programme. Every dollar invested has the potential to transform lives and create positive ripple effects across the social issues we are facing today. In that way, each dollar becomes part of the solution.

By Beulah Daunakamakama (aka Triple M....madam President, media, mom-ager 'mom/manager')