After fourteen intense days and a total of 235 bouts, the boxing tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games concluded today at the iconic Stade Roland-Garros. The final four gold medal matches defined champions in the Women’s 57kg and 75kg events, as well as in the Men’s 57kg and +92kg weight categories.
Yu Ting LIN of Chinese Taipei was crowned the Women’s 57kg Olympic champion after a commanding 5:0 unanimous decision win over Poland’s Julia SZEREMETA. LIN, who finished ninth at Tokyo 2020, dominated not only today but throughout the entire tournament, securing four consecutive 5:0 victories. Despite the loss, the 20-year-old SZEREMETA made history as the first Polish woman to win an Olympic boxing medal, a remarkable achievement in her debut Olympic appearance.
After her victory, LIN expressed her emotions: “I feel incredible. I want to thank everyone who has supported me and thanks to my team and everyone in Taiwan. They gave me the power. Every fight is not easy. Winning 5-0 might seem easy but behind that is a lot of practice and hard work.”
In the Men’s 57kg category, Abdumalik KHALOKOV of Uzbekistan, a first-time Olympian and 2023 Asian Games champion, lived up to expectations by claiming gold. The Uzbek boxer, who also holds the 2018 Youth Olympic Games title, left no chance for Munarbek SEIITBEK UULU (KGZ), securing a decisive 5:0 victory.
Reflecting on his triumph, KHALOKOV said: “I’m not the greatest boxer, but I am a boxer who loves what he’s doing and has goals. I don’t want to stop with this. I want to be a two-time Olympic champion so I will continue to work hard.”
When asked about the pressure of being Uzbekistan’s flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony, he added: “It was a great honour to carry the flag but I knew I still had to win the gold medal. I knew I had to deliver the gold and I did.”
Uzbekistan continued to dominate in the Men’s +92kg final as Bakhodir JALOLOV won in style, displaying aggression and landing powerful blows to secure a 5:0 victory over Spain’s Ayoub GHADFA DRISSI EL AISSAOUI. This victory marked JALOLOV’s second consecutive Olympic gold, solidifying his status as the man to beat in his division.
JALOLOV sharing his emotions after becoming a two-time Olympic champion said: “This is history for Uzbekistan, and I’m emotional because becoming a two-time Olympic champion was my dream. Now, I feel very happy, and I will continue my career as a professional boxer.”
Commenting on whether this is the greatest men’s boxing team ever (Uzbekistan won five of the seven men’s golds), he added: “All the praise to Allah, we did it. Not any other country who are participating today don’t have such results. It’s the result of our hard work.”
In the Women’s 75kg final, Qian LI (CHN) triumphed over Panama’s Atheyna Bibeichi BYLON, the 2023 Pan American Games silver medalist, with a convincing 5:0 unanimous decision. LI, who had previously won bronze in Rio 2016 and silver in Tokyo 2020, finally achieved her dream of Olympic gold, cementing her legacy in the sport.
After her match, LI commented about her journey: “I have had several years of struggle and heartbreak, but my dreams have finally come true. I’m so happy. I have rewritten boxing history for my country. I took the fights step by step. But it has always been my dream to get a gold medal and it has finally come true. I was just so proud for my country when I saw the flag.”
Find the Medal Standings by NOC here: https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/medals/boxing
Find the Medal Standings by Event here: https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/medals/medallists/boxing
Find the event schedule and the results here.
