Bolton boxer Cindy Ngamba is through to the quarter-finals of the of the women’s 75kg boxing after defeating Canadian opponent Tammara Thibeault.
Cindy, who moved to Bolton at the age of 11, scored the first win the IOC Refugee Olympic Team.
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.
Boxer @CindyNgamba has achieved the first win for the IOC @RefugeesOlympic Team at #Paris2024, following a split decision in the -75kg bout. Find out more: https://t.co/kOEF5xgHPR pic.twitter.com/Z7I12En2yP
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) July 31, 2024
@CindyNgamba appreciation post ❤️
— Refugee Olympic Team (@RefugeesOlympic) July 31, 2024
Today, Cindy beat ex-World Champ Tammara Thibeault and qualified for the quarter-finals at #Paris2024.
Tammara gave Cindy a warm congratulatory hug, showcasing the best of the Olympic spirit!#ForThe100Million pic.twitter.com/nzy1PXh47d
Cindy – we are in awe of you. 💙
— UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) July 31, 2024
Congratulations for making your Olympic debut with the @RefugeesOlympic Team and winning your first match at #Paris2024!
Thank you for inspiring us all! We are in your corner. 🥊 #CheerForRefugees pic.twitter.com/lBrlXMcy2v
Speaking after the fight, as reported on the International Olympic website, she said: "Being here means the world to me, and I hope it means the world to many other people.
"There are many refugees around the world who are not even athletes, who are going through many different issues, so many obstacles and they don’t believe in themselves. I hope that them watching me, they can see that through anything in life I was able to overcome.”
Cindy will now compete in the quarter-final fight on 4 August.
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.
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.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel