Australian boxer gifted first medal of Commonwealth Games without a punch thrown

Taylah Robertson from Queensland state’s Sunshine Coast is guaranteed at least a bronze in the women’s 51-kg division event at the Commonwealth Games 2018 after receiving a free pass to the semi-finals.

Australian boxer Taylah Robertson has secured the first medal of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games -- nine days before her first bout.

Taylah Robertson (L) is guaranteed at least a bronze in the women’s 51-kg division event at the Commonwealth Games 2018. (Facebook: Taylah Robertson)

The 19-year-old from Queensland state’s Sunshine Coast is guaranteed at least a bronze in the women’s 51-kg division after receiving a free pass to the semi-finals.

Only seven boxers are competing in the category and both losing semi-finalists receive bronzes.

READ | Commonwealth Games 2018: Canadian hockey pride - Ludhiana’s Panesar brothers

“Can’t wait to get in the ring and represent Australia on such a big sporting stage,” Robertson, who has her semi-final on April 13, wrote in a post on her Facebook account.

Her coach Mark Evans said it was “just the luck of the draw”.

“For some reason the numbers in that division were down. When you look at some of the boys divisions, some of them have 24 to 26 boxers there,” Evans told local media.

READ | Commonwealth Games 2018: No shot put or discus? Use a coconut instead

“We’ve got a guaranteed bronze but I’m tipping that colour might change.”