CINDY Ngamba ensured the Paris 2024 Olympic refugee contingent would get medals after winning the boxing quarter-finals on Sunday (4/8).
Ngamba, who was born in Cameroon but sought asylum in Britain at the age of 11, beat Davina Michel of France by unanimous decision to reach the last four of the women’s 75kg class and secure at least a bronze medal.
“It means a lot to me to be the first refugee team member to win a medal,” said the 25-year-old boxer who will be the flag bearer for the refugee contingent at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“I’m just a human being, like all the other refugees,” added Ngamba, who is a lesbian and illegal in her home country.
The refugee contingent first competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics and was dedicated to providing a platform for forcibly displaced people around the world.
In the 2024 Paris Olympics, there are 37 athletes in this contingent. Ngamba qualified for boxing and now holds a ticket to the semifinals.
“I want to say to all the refugees around the world and refugees who are not athletes that you have to keep working hard,” he said.
he was quoted as saying by AFP. “Keep believing in yourself.”
“Hopefully in the next match, I can finish this task, not hope, I will finish it,” he concluded. (Ant/Z-1)
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