Pretoria: At just 18 years old, Mischa Araes is set to make history as the first Namibian woman to compete in boxing at the Commonwealth Games when she steps into the ring in Glasgow, Scotland.According to Namibia Press Agency, Araes is part of Team Namibia's 24-member squad that will compete in five sporting codes at the Games, which take place from 23 July to 02 August 2026. Namibia will be represented in athletics (including para-athletics), boxing, lawn bowls, gymnastics, and swimming.The Swakopmund-based boxer will be making her international debut and admits her journey into the sport began in the most unexpected way. "I never planned on becoming a boxer. A friend persuaded me to join a boxing gym because she wanted us to do it for fitness," she said.What began as a reluctant visit to the gym has since developed into a historic sporting milestone. Ironically, the friend who introduced her to boxing soon left the sport to play volleyball. "She abandoned boxing, but that turned out to be the best t hing that ever happened to me," Araes said.As she continued training, her coach quickly recognised her natural ability and encouraged her to pursue the sport competitively. "My coach saw potential in me, and that's where it all started. For now, I want to enjoy this experience. This is only the beginning for me," she said.Despite preparing for one of the biggest moments of her young career, Araes remains grounded about her expectations as she prepares to face some of the Commonwealth's top boxers. "We'll find out at the Games how ready I am. I don't want to make predictions. I just want to see what happens in Glasgow. I want to explore, meet new people, learn from my opponents, and discover where my weaknesses are so that I can improve," she said.Although competing at the Commonwealth Games is a dream realised, the 18-year-old believes it is only the first step towards an even bigger ambition. "My ultimate goal is to represent Namibia at the Olympic Games, and the Commonwealth Games are just the beginni ng of that journey," Araes said.