Fiji teenager through to finals as Pacific medal hopes build in Glasgow

Fiji teenager Anahira McCutcheon has kept Pacific hopes alive in the pool after qualifying for the women's 50-metre freestyle semi-finals at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

McCutcheon, 16, clocked 25.45 seconds in her heat to progress, continuing an impressive campaign after breaking Fiji's national 50m butterfly record twice earlier at the Games and advanced to the 100m freestyle semi-finals.

She headlines another busy day for Pacific athletes, with several nations now within touching distance of medals across multiple sports.

Tonga's women's 3x3 basketball team has also reached the quarter-finals where they will face Uganda for a place in the last four.

In boxing, Fiji's Jasmine Daunakamakama will fight Bangladesh's Keshani Hansika in the women's 57kg quarter-finals while Sāmoa's Marion Ah Tong takes on Scotland's Sonny Kerr in the men's 70kg quarter-finals.

Sāmoa's Seko also faces India's Narender in the men's 90kg+ quarter-finals while Niue's Duken Holo Tutaikitoa-Williams meets Wales' Connor Williams in the men's 90kg division.

Sāmoa’s Emmanuel Shalom Palota Ulimasao is preparing for the men’s 94kg weightlifting final, with the Pacific lifter chasing a place on the Commonwealth Games podium in Glasgow.

Earlier, Niue's Karen Te Ruki Pasene and Papua New Guinea's Flora Loga bowed out of the women's 60kg competition after quarter-final defeats.

Weightlifting remains one of the Pacific's strongest medal opportunities over the coming days.

Sāmoa's Emmanuel Shalom Palota Ulimasao will contest the men's 94kg final while Thursday's heavyweight programme features Tonga's Joshua Makafana Uikilifi Jr, Sāmoa's Jack Hitila Opeloge, Fiji's Taniela Tuisuva Rainibogi and Vanuatu's Thomas Wilbur in the men's 110kg final.

Papua New Guinea’s Regina Edward has reached the women’s discus final, keeping Pacific medal hopes alive as she prepares to compete on the Commonwealth Games stage in Glasgow. Photo/Supplied

The women's +86kg final also promises plenty of Pacific interest with Sāmoa's Iuniarra Sipaia, Cook Islands lifter Mata Noko McDonald, Kiribati's Tenganga Taunikarawa and Tuvalu's Malia Timo all in action.

Nauru's Marcincy Cook finished ninth in the men's 88kg final with a total lift of 290kg while Sāmoa's Seine Stowers placed eighth in the women's 77kg division.

On the track, Tuvalu's Howard Tapuaiga Siila produced two season's best performances after racing in both the men's 800m and 400m heats just 35 minutes apart.

The 19-year-old finished eighth in both races.

"When I decided to enter the races we weren't sure of the scheduling," he said. "But I heard the crowd all the way round and they helped push me on."

Papua New Guinea's William Camilus Peka also set a personal best of 49.88 seconds in the men's 400m heats.

Athletics finals are also on the horizon with Papua New Guinea's Regina Edward contesting the women's discus, Fiji's Sitiveni Konataci in the men's discus and Tonga's Ata Maama Tu'utafaiva and Sāmoa's Nu'u Tuilefano lining up in the women's shot put final.

In lawn bowls, Pacific nations continue round-robin play while Tonga's Tala will face England before meeting Malawi as they chase a place in the netball semi-finals.

Team Pacific have three medals to their name after PNG weightlifer Morea Baru clinched the region's first medal in the men's 65kg division to win a bronze. Hours later, Sāmoa's John Latafi Tafi won a silver and Nauru's Ezekiel Moses the bronze in the men's 71kg weightlifting final.

With knockout matches and medal events across the next two days, the Pacific challenge in Glasgow is entering one of its busiest and most important stages.

The 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games ends on 3 August. For more details, visit glasgow2026.com