Google employee and elite boxer? Bangladesh star Zinnat Ferdous vows to 'come back strong' after defeat to Caitlin Fryers
By Leon Imber
Updated 27/07/2026 at 23:53 GMT+1
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Zinnat Ferdous of Bangladesh ultimately suffered a disappointing Monday morning at the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games in defeat to Team Northern Ireland's Caitlin Fryers in their flyweight round-of-16 bout.
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But in a wider context, that Ferdous was representing her nation in the ring, at the Commonwealth Games, was a landmark moment in an extraordinary, and unconventional path.
By day, the 32-year-old is the global strategy and operations lead at Google. Despite that hefty job title, Ferdous has made huge strides in the ring since taking up boxing at the age of 27.
She is one of just three Bangladeshi boxers at this summer's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and has been delighted to represent her nation at the prestigious event.
"It’s very natural to feel disappointed," Ferdous said in an interview with Official World Boxing after defeat.
"I came to represent Bangladesh and my team-mate, the last two fights he won decisively, and I wanted to follow that manner, but I tried my best and I hope my country, my friends, my fans see that. I will be back.
"Yesterday my team-mate Rakib [Hossain] was competing and he won, and I’m the loudest voice there. The camera shot right at me and I felt so proud that, you know, we’re only a team of two but give us a couple of years, we’ll come back strong."
Ferdous also gave some insight into how her day job coincides with the demands of elite-level boxing.
"I’m very lucky," she said. "I have a very supportive company, team, shoutout to Google. We have this understanding. Get your job done, do what you’ve got to do in the ring, but come back and work. And that’s why we make it happen."
Ferdous has previously spoken about boxing in Bangladesh lagging behind cricket and football in terms of investment, but hopes now is the time for combat sports to come to the forefront in her nation.
"I just had a meeting with the Sports Minister, we’re talking with the Olympic Association," she said.
"We’re hoping the country, the government sees that there’s hope with boxing. Invest in us and we’ll prove you [right]. We’re hoping to grow."
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Ferdous was comfortably beaten by an inspired Fryers on Monday, a bout which saw her docked a point in the second round for persistent holding. But there is plenty for her to look forward to.
Earlier this year, Ferdous spoke to Sports Illustrated about the roadmap ahead of her and her ambitions to compete in Los Angeles two years from now.
"With the LA 2028 Olympics just two years away, the clock is absolutely ticking," Ferdous said. "Mapping out the road to the Games means focusing on a massive lineup of major milestones: the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games, and upcoming World Boxing Championships.”
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