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“Some people think [Muslim] women shouldn’t box but mostly just support,” the 26-year-old said. “They saw that I was very passionate about boxing. This is what I like to do. I don’t care what they think. This is my life.” And what if someone does not support? “I would say, ‘Anything to say’?” he laughed. “Then ‘whack!’” Juggling his faith along with his love of boxing has become a problem, especially during Ramadan when Muslims cannot drink or eat between sunrise and sunset. “I really believe in my beliefs, so it’s not something I can avoid,” he said. “I made sure I did my prayer. It’s something I can’t do. Just like Ramadan. Due to Ramadan, I couldn’t do camp in Sheffield. There’s no point in me leaving. “Training in Ramadan is very tough. You practice before you start fasting. Then you go to the gym [at night] one hour after you eat. You are hungry but you have to contro...

This is the end of the men’s 67kg weightlifting competition at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and Kiribati’s Ruben Katoatau, 25, is one of the most popular contenders among fans and the media. He didn’t win gold or silver or bronze, and even he didn’t understand why there was so much interest in him. It could be the enthusiasm he uses to approach every lift, and the big smile that comes after every success. Or it could be the spirit of “Friendly Games”, where everyone is happy to see competitors from small countries get a chance to shine. And, no matter how good the gold, for many like Katoatau, being a part of the event means a lot. “I’m very happy with the audience. I’m very happy for that,” he said. “I get fire on my platform, and I lift weights. I really give it my all.” Katoatau says weightlifting is not very popular on the Pacific Island. Ruben Katoatau of Kiribati also competed at last year’s T...