Teenage martial arts champion 'eternally grateful' after NHS surgeon saves her Commonwealth Games dream
Frema Agyei, 17, was able to return to competing and go on to qualify for Glasgow 2026 a few months after being treated by the surgeon following a devastating injury.
Teenage martial arts champion ‘eternally grateful’ after NHS surgeon saves her Commonwealth Games dream
Frema says that the St George’s Hospital surgeon listened to her and that it made a ‘huge difference.’
STORY BY MELISSA SIGODO
JULY 13, 2026
A teenage martial arts champion competing in this month’s Commonwealth Games says she is “eternally grateful” after an NHS surgeon saved her sporting career.
Judo champion Frema Agyei feared her competing days were over after a devastating injury left her with a torn ligament.
The A-level student from Colliers Wood in south London says she experienced a searing pain in her left wrist during her intense practice sessions when she first realised something was wrong.
But after being treated by Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon Shamim Umarji and her team at St George’s in Tooting, south west London - the 17-year-old was able to return to competing and go on to qualify for Glasgow 2026.
Frema said: “Miss Umarji saved my sporting career, without a doubt.
“There are no words to describe how grateful I am to her.
“She explained the mechanism of my wrist, what had happened and why I was in pain with certain movements. She asked the right questions and listened to me, which made such a difference.
“I really wanted to avoid surgery and she offered a way of treating my injury that could avoid it – and it worked.
“Without her, I wouldn’t be completing in the Commonwealth Games and I am eternally grateful to her.”
Frema’s father Kofi echoed his daughter’s praise for the care Frema received.
Kofi said: “We need more people in the NHS like Miss Umarji.
“She is amazing and can turn water into wine in my eyes. She listened to us – she was like the man from Del Monte and said ‘yes’ – we wouldn’t be going to Glasgow if it wasn’t for her.
“Miss Umarji has made such a big impact in our lives.”
Frema will be in the under 57kg category representing Ghana where her father is from.
Frema said: “As part of my judo, I have to do body conditioning which includes pull-ups and push-ups – but I was in so much pain, it was impossible.
“In turn, that affected my performance as I was in pain with the most basic moves, so I just couldn’t do my judo.”
Frema was told that she had a torn ligament, resulting in a ganglion cyst forming in her wrist – which is a thick, jelly-like fluid that develops along the joints or tendons.
To treat the cyst, Frema was given an injection to drain the fluid and a week later had an ultrasound-guided sterile injection, where ultrasound imaging was used to guide a needle into her wrist.
As well as treating Frema, the surgeon also arranged for her to shadow her team on work experience, to help her choose between two career paths – becoming a doctor or a dentist.
Kate Slemeck, Managing Director for St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Frema’s story is just one example of the expert dedicated and compassionate care our teams provide every day.
“Frema is an inspiration and we wish her all the success at the Commonwealth Games.”
Katy Vaughan, CEO of St George’s Hospital Charity, said: “Every day we see the extraordinary, life-changing difference our NHS colleagues make to patients and families like Frema’s.
“Supporting and celebrating the people who care for our community is at the heart of what we do at St George’s Hospital Charity, which is why we’re proud to sponsor the gesh CARE Awards once again.
“The awards are an opportunity to recognise the remarkable people behind our NHS and celebrate the dedication and excellence that make stories like Frema’s possible.”