An Olympian who arrived as a refugee in Bolton at the age of 11 is set to take to the ring this afternoon.

Cindy Ngamba started boxing aged 15, training at the Elite Gym in Halliwell.

For the past two years, she has been training with the GB Boxing squad in Sheffield, and had been hoping to represent Great Britain in Paris.

However, as she is not a UK citizen she cannot fight for Team GB – so she is fighting for the Refugee Olympic Team under the Olympic flag – and was even a flagbearer for the team at the opening ceremony.

Now, Cindy is hoping to become the first athlete to win a medal for the team, which was originally established in the 2016 games.

Ngamba was a flagbearer for the Refugee Olympic Team during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic GamesNgamba was a flagbearer for the Refugee Olympic Team during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (Image: Pauline Ballet/Pool/PA Wire)

Sign up to our newsletters to get the latest stories sent straight to your inbox.

The 25-year-old, who attended Bolton College and graduated with a BA (Hons) in Crime and Criminal Justice from the University of Bolton last year, is set to face Canada’s Tammara Thibeault in the Women’s 75kg preliminaries this afternoon.

The bout, which will take place in the North Paris Arena, is scheduled to start at 16.06 UK time.

After the preliminaries, Cindy will be hoping to overcome the quarter- and semi-finals to win a medal.

Cindy fought for her refugee status for years – having previously been sent to a detention camp in London.

She was fearful of a return to Cameroon due to her LGBTQ+ sexuality, as homosexuality is illegal in Cameroon and can be punished with up to five years in prison.

Follow The Bolton News on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and TikTok.

Speaking to the PA news agency in June last year, Ngamba said: “When I was an immigrant, one time, me and my brother were arrested and got sent to a detention camp in London; just like that we did not know what was happening, you feel helpless and think you will be getting sent back to the country you came from.

“Every little thing that has happened in my life since coming to the UK, I see it in a good way because if it didn’t happen I would not be where I am right now.”

Bill Webster, Principal of Bolton College, said: “We are incredibly proud of Cindy – seeing one of our own reach the pinnacle of sporting achievement is amazing.

“It is a huge achievement to even compete in the Olympics, made all the more remarkable considering Cindy’s background. We wish her every success and will be cheering her on here in Bolton.”

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Bolton. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk.