Results and statistics for Africa representation at the 2023 Women’s World Boxing Championship in New Delhi, India
The Championship had 324 boxers from 65 Countries (13 out of 65 equals 20%)
The continent was represented by 41 boxers from 13 Countries (41 of 324 equals 12.6%)
Africa has 54 countries and only 24% of the countries had representation at the world championship.
Out of 12 gold medals available Africa won 1(Mardi Khadija-Morocco).
Out of 24 bronze medals available Africa won 1 (Yasmine Moutaki-Morocco).
Out of 312 bouts in the championship, Africa won 24 bouts (breakdown below).
Last year the continent won more medals in Istanbul world championship where we had 3 silver medals and 2 bronze medals compared to 2 medals this time round (Gold & Bronze). The two medals enabled team Morocco to rank 5th in the overall medal table.
81+KG Heavyweight World Champion Mardi Khadija from Morocco. This gold medal is historic because it is the first by an African woman.
The breakdown of the African teams was as follows:
- Total 41 boxers
- Algeria : 6 boxers
- Botswana : 3 boxers
- Cameroon : 1 boxers
- Cape verde : 1 boxers
- Eswatini : 1 boxers
- Kenya : 11 boxers
- Mali : 1 boxers
- Morocco : 4 boxers
- Mozambique : 4 boxers
- Sierra leone : 1 boxers
- South Africa : 3 boxers
- Tanzania : 2 boxers
- Tunisia : 3 boxers
ENTRIES PER WEIGHT
- Total : 324 boxers
- 45-48KG Minimum weight : 32 boxers
- 48-50KG Light Fly : 35 boxers
- 50-52KG Fly : 30 boxers
- 52-54KG Bantam : 41 boxers
- 54-57KG Feather : 36 boxers
- 57-60KG Light weight : 31 boxers
- 60-63KG Light Welter : 23 boxers
- 63-66KG Welter : 31 boxers
- 66-70KG Light Middle : 19 boxers
- 70-75KG Middle weight : 21 boxers
- 75-81KG Light Heavy weight : 13 boxers
- 81+KG Heavy weight : 12 boxers
Africa as a continent won 24 bouts in total in the world championship and 2 medals (Gold & Bronze).
The following were the winners of different bouts in the championship:
- Christine Ongare of kenya defeated Rehma Maganga of Tanzania on points in 45-48KG Minimum weight preliminary bout.
- Lethabo Modukanele Bokamosa of Botswana defeated Asmita Duwal of Nepal in 48-50KG Light Fly weight preliminary bout.
- Chaddar Rabab of Morocco defeated Lin Ci-en of Chinese Taipei on unanimous points in 48-50KG Light Fly weight preliminary bout.
- Truelove Mathiba Thandolwethu of South Africa defeated Siphamandla Veliswa Magaya of Eswatini on points in 48-50KG Light Fly weight preliminary bout.
- Chaddar Rabab of Morroco defeated Truelove Mathiba Thandolwethu of South Africa on points in 48-50KG Light Fly weight round of 16. Chaddar lost to Wasilla Lkhadiri of France in the quarter final.
- Helene Bagao of Mozambique defeated Ann Wanjiru of Kenya on points in 50-52KG 57-60KG Light weight preliminary bout.
- Hadjila Khelif of Algeria defeated Golubeva Nadezhda of Russia on points in 57-60KG Light weight preliminary bout.
- Hadjila Khelif of Algeria defeated Ala Ivashkevich of Belarus on points in round of 16. She went on to loss to Oh Yeonji of South Korea in the Quarter final.
- Yasmine Mouttaki of Morroco defeated Lilla Szeleczki of Hungary on points in preliminary round of 32 45-48KG Minimum weight
- Yasmine Mouttaki of Morroco defeated Marta Lopez of spain on points in 45-48KG Minimum weight preliminary round of 16
- Yasmine Mouttaki of Morroco defeated Yuliyanova Asenova of Bulgaria on points in 45-48KG Minimum weight quarter final. Yasmine went on to loss to Altansetseg Lutsaikhan of Mongolia in semifinal and win a bronze medal.
- Imane Khelif of Algeria defeated Friza Anyango of Kenya in 63-66KG Welter weight preliminary round on RSC R1.
- Imane Khelif of Algeria defeated Azaliia Amineva of Russia on points in 63-66KG Welter weight round of 16
- Imane Khelif of Algeria defeated Navbakhor Khamidova of Uzbekistan on points in 63-66KG Welter weight quarter final.
- Imane Khelif of Algeria defeated Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand on points in 63-66KG Welter weight semifinal before she was told that she had failed eligibility test and her semifinal results overtuned & she was disqualified.
- Noelle Mireille Bindzi of Cameroon defeated Gulzada Jorakulyyeva of Turkmenistan on points in 63-66KG Welter weight preliminary round.
- Ivanusa Moreira Gomes of Cape verde defeated Francinah Aratwa Kasemang of Botswana on points in 63-66KG Welter weight round of 32
18) Ivanusa Moreira Gomes 63-66KG Welter weight Cape verde defeated Tsetsegdari Myagmarsuren of Mongolia on points in welterweight round of 16. Ivanusa went on to loss to Nadezhda Ryabets of Kazakstan in 63-66KG Welter weight quarter final. - Ichrak Chaib of Algeria defeated Edith Tavanae of French Polynesia on RSC RD 1. In light 66-70KG Light Middle weight preliminary round. Chaib lost to eventual winner Anastasia Demurchian of Russia in quarter final
- Alcinda Dos Santos Lucas of Mozambique defeated Regina Lakos of Hungary on points in 66-70KG Light Middle weight preliminary round. Alcinda lost to Scott Kayes of Australia in quarter final.
- Gramane Rady of Mozambique defeated Sokhiba Ruzmetova of Uzbekistan on points in 70-75KG Middle weight preliminary bout. Rady lost to Indian Lovlina Borgohain in quarter final. Lovlina went on to win gold.
- Mardi Khadija of Morocco defeated Lu Zheng of China on points in 81+KG Heavy weight quarter final.
- Mardi Khadija of Morocco defeated Diana Pyatak of Russia on points in 81+KG Heavy weight semifinal.
- Mardi Khadija of Morocco defeated Lazzat Kungeibayeva of Kazakistan in 81+KG Heavy weight final and make history as the first African woman to win gold at women world boxing championship.
7 African boxers lost in the quarter final of the tournament which was one step away from winning a medal.
Imane Khelif of Algeria got to the final of the tournament and at worst she would have won a silver medal but with her disqualification we lost a sure medal.
African Quarter finalists:
- Chaddar Rabab of Morroco – 48-50KG Light Fly weight
- Hadjila Khelif of Algeria – 57-60KG Light weight
- Ivanusa Moreira Gomes of Cape Verde – 63-66KG Welter weight
- Ichrak Chaib of Algeria – 66-70KG Light Middle weight
- Alcinda Dos Santos Lucas of Mozambique – 66-70KG Light Middle weight
- Gramane Rady of Mozambique – 70-75KG Middle weight
- Elizabeth Andiego of Kenya – 75-81KG Light Heavy weight
The continent performed fairly well considering the small representation. African coaches have their work cut out to ensure we win more medals at the global championships. However there is reason to be hopeful that in future with better preparation and engagement in more tournaments, Africans will be able to leave a mark at future world championships & Olympics.
Africa should have a greater representation of referees and judges officiating at the world championships. Although ironically, it has been observed that African judges generally do not give favorable decisions to African boxers, especially in close fights.
A number of teams were facilitated by IBA to participate in the championship and in future we need to encourage more national federations to use this venue of writing to IBA & requesting to be facilitated to participate in Major IBA championships.
Looking forward to a better representation of the confederation in the men world championship in the month of May in Uzbekistan.
Statistics by Duncan Kuria, Nairobi, Kenya |
