'Lifetime journey' ends in swift defeat for proud Kernachan

Scottish boxer Stephanie Kernachan was devastated to lose her first round fight but is glad to complete a "lifetime journey" on her long-awaited Commonwealth Games debut.

The 33-year-old came out of retirement after Birmingham 2022 to realise her dream but was comprehensively beaten in her 54kg contest with Canada's Scarlett Savannah Delgado.

"This has been a lifetime journey coming," she said after the unanimous decision. "All these years of hard work and dedication.

"To have it all come together and then be over so quickly, it's really hard to take, but that's the way it is."

Kernachan had hoped to box on home soil in 2014, but Team Scotland did not select any female fighters, while her weight class was overlooked in 2018 and her gloves were hung up in 2019.

Having been talked into a return to the ring by her old coaches, she admits it was tough to get back to international level again, but says she felt she had "nothing to lose."

When Glasgow stepped in to rescue the Games, it provided Kernachan with extra motivation.

"When they announced Glasgow, I thought, 'you know what? This is it. This is meant to be. I'm from Glasgow, and it's in Glasgow'.

"I finally got here. I've got my dream. It's just really hard to not actually get any further."

Kernachan's family were out in force cheering her on at the Hydro and they have been fully behind her decision to get back into the ring.

"My sister stopped by and dropped off a few wee cards yesterday," she explained. "My mum died five years ago and she'd made a keyring with a locket or hair in it. So that was quite emotional.

"It's a huge achievement and I need to be proud of that. And I'm sure everybody else is."