Team Ni’s remaining two female boxers at the 2026 Commonwealth Games Michaela Walsh and Kaci Rock will fight for gold medals.
Walsh made it to a fourth consecutive Commonwealth Games final as she easily outpointed her Fijian opponent Jasmine Daunakamakama. The first Team NI athlete to medal at four consecutive Commonwealth Games, Walsh will face the World champion from India Jaismine Jaismine in the gold medal bout.
The Holy Family boxer was delighted with her performance in the semi-final win.
“Amazing,” she said. “I was actually quite nervous. I usually am nervous, but I felt a wee bit more nervous, I don’t know why.
“That girl was actually in training camp with us in Belfast, I remember seeing her an thinking ‘wow, she’s a good girl’ so we had to get the tactics right and thankfully we did.
“Nerves never go, you just learn how to deal with them better. Sometimes if nerves are used in the wrong way it can affect the performance, but if used in the right way you can control them and use that energy.”
Walsh will now try a new method of relaxation before her quest for the gold medal begins.
“All the experience I’ve had throughout the years, I bring that into al these major tournaments,” said Walsh.
“I’m just going to enjoy the rest of the day, get back, recover, I need to do my Duolingo – I’m nearly on my 300-day streak of Irish, so I’ll go back and do that.”
Walsh’s first Commonwealth final was in Glasgow 12 years ago when she lost to Olympic champion Nicola Adams.
“If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be. Years ago I had a bit of redemption and I wanted to right that wrong, but even when I did that in Birmingham, it didn’t feel like that and even now, it doesn’t feel like that,” said Walsh.
“I’m just going to enjoy where I am now and what will be, will be.”
Rock had a more difficult fight against home town fighter Caitlin Rainey, but prevailed on a 3-2 split points decision and she is not settling for anything but gold in the final against Sacha Hickey.
“I definitely don’t wear silver, it is gold or nothing, said Rock.
“It sounds great to be in the final, but the job is not done I have still got to fight tomorrow so I’ll not be thinking too much about the win, the celebration said it all and I and just delighted to be in the final.
“I expected Rainey to come out quick especially in front of her home town crowd and put on a show, we knew that was going to happen, I just didn’t stick to the game plan in the first round.
“I’m not good fighting on the back foot and some times I like to have a tear up when I shouldn’t so I think I did that in the first round and that is where it all went round, but I brought it back in the second round.
“In the third round I think there was about 30 seconds where the two of us just stood toe-to-toe and had a go, but I think it shows how much it meant to both of us that we were really going out there to win the fight.
“Sometimes it just all goes out the window when you are in there, but the coaches are shouting in 30 seconds to go and I knew how long I had to definitely make sure of the round. Obviously she hear as well and is giving it her best go too.
“I’ll just rest up now and get ready for the final.”
