Boxer Duken Tutakitoa-Williams took simply 5 minutes to seal his place in Commonwealth Video games historical past by profitable Niue’s first-ever medal.
With a inhabitants of round 1,600, it was maybe no shock that Niue – a coral atoll within the Pacific Ocean 375 miles to the east of Tonga – had by no means made its method onto the medal desk at 5 earlier Video games.
However heavyweight Tutakitoa-Williams ended that wait by stopping his Prepare dinner Islands opponent Michael Schuster within the second spherical of their quarter-final contest at Birmingham 2022.
Niue’s Duken Tutakitoa-Williams (left) lands punch in his heavyweight boxing quarter-final at Birmingham 2022 (Peter Byrne 2022)
(PA Wire)
“I got down to develop into the primary Niuean to win a medal and I’ve acquired it accomplished,” stated Tutakitoa-Williams, who hails from Auckland in New Zealand, round 1,500 miles away from the so-called ‘Rock of Polynesia’.
“I can’t wait to search out out the response in Niue. Destiny introduced me right here as I initially needed to go for New Zealand after profitable the nationals there.
“However my coach was requested to teach the Niue group and I used to be so glad to develop into a Niuean.
“I really feel like a Niuean already, however this isn’t the tip. I got here right here with three different boxers to make historical past.
I did not come right here for a bronze medal – I would like gold
Duken Tutakitoa-Williams
“They fell brief, however I didn’t come right here for a bronze medal – I would like gold.”
Boxing has at all times appeared Niue’s greatest path to medalling on the Commonwealth Video games.
20 years in the past, the participating super-heavyweight Star Tauasi made a memorable influence – if not the rostrum – at Niue’s first Video games in Manchester to win the hearts of combat followers everywhere in the world.
Tutakitoa-Williams, who had a bye into the final eight, will now be part of Tauasi in Niue folklore, and he doesn’t should go far to get official recognition from the political class.
Niue’s Duken Tutakitoa-Williams after a quarter-final victory that ensures him a bronze medal in Birmingham (Peter Byrne/PA)
(PA Wire)
The nation’s Premier Dalton Tagelagi is in Birmingham… competing in Niue’s bowls group at his third successive Commonwealth Video games.
Sadly, Tagelagi – a part of a 15-strong Niue group competing throughout three totally different sports activities – is not going to be taking his personal medal again to the South Pacific.
Niue’s 10 bowlers, 5 males and 5 ladies, have misplaced each match in Birmingham.
