Bittersweet moment for Faoagali as he settles for Silver

By Talaia Mika

APIA, SAMOA – 08 AUGUST 2022: Samoa’s heavyweight boxer, Tupuola Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali has shared his bittersweet moment after settling for a Silver medal for Samoa at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham.

The 23-year-old Samoan boxer was defeated by England’s Lewis Williams with 5-0 points this morning, 24 hours after defeating Niue’s Duken Tutakitoa-Williams in the semifinals.

Tupuola told Talamua that he expected to win the final battle and the judges’ decision caught him by surprise.

“Bittersweet feeling as I thought I won the fight, but that’s boxing sometimes. The judges don’t always see from outside what we feel inside the ring,” he said.

“Honestly I thought my first fight was more difficult against India and I won that.”

He said this experience made him hungrier to prepare for his upcoming battles at the Olympics and his future in boxing.

“I fought my best for Samoa and I hopeful I have made our country proud.”

In 2023, Tupuola will be preparing for the Olympics qualifying tournaments as well as the next Pacific games.

He also won a Silver medal in the Commonwealth games in Australia in 2018.

Tupuola’s Silver adds to Team Samoa’s five overall medal tally after the weightlifters won 1 Gold and 3 silvers in the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.