Hasanboy DUSMATOV of Uzbekistan secured his second Olympic gold medal today, defeating France’s Billal BENNAMA by unanimous decision in the Men’s 51kg final, dashing the hopes of a French victory on home soil. The Rio 2016 champion showcased his class and experience, leading all three rounds with a masterful display of attacking strategy, speed, and precise counterpunching. DUSMATOV’s dominant performance marked a triumphant return to the Olympic podium after missing the Tokyo 2020 Games.
After the victory DUSMATOV said: “I want to thank everybody back home who has supported me. After Rio (2016), I took a little break in my Olympic career. But I wanted to get that second gold medal, which is why I came back. I’ve given everything to do this. All the hard work has paid off.”
Asked which gold medal is more special, he replied: “This gold is more valuable because nobody thought I could achieve this. I have shown them that it was possible and at what level I can box.”
In the Women’s 54kg division, Yuan CHANG from the People’s Republic of China emerged as the Olympic champion, outclassing Turkey’s Hatice AKBAS, the 2023 European Games bronze medallist. CHANG, who was the silver medallist at the 2022 Asian Games (held in 2023) and the Youth Olympic Games champion in 2014, demonstrated her superiority throughout the bout, securing a commanding 5:0 victory. Her win not only earned her Olympic gold but also brought pride to her country.
CHANG said: “I’ve given the team from China the best I could, the gold medal. Hopefully, others can do the same. It was so exciting to see the flag and hear the national anthem when I got my gold medal.”
In the Men’s 57kg semifinal, top seed Abdumalik KHALOKOV of Uzbekistan advanced to the final after a 5:0 unanimous decision victory over the 2023 Pacific Games gold medallist, Charlie SENIOR of Australia. The 23-year-old KHALOKOV dominated from the outset, landing a series of powerful punches that overwhelmed his opponent. Although SENIOR attempted a counterattack in the third round, it was insufficient to turn the tide. KHALOKOV will now face Kyrgyzstan’s Munarbek SEIITBEK UULU in the gold medal match on August 10, where the two will vie for the top spot on the Paris 2024 podium.
In the Women’s 75kg semifinal, Li QUIAN from the People’s Republic of China secured her place in the gold medal final after a hard-fought 3:2 victory over Australia’s Caitlin PARKER. The Australian athlete started strong, leading the first round with sharp blows that earned her a 5:0 advantage from the judges. However, the two-time Olympic medallist LI (Bronze in Rio 2016 and Silver in Tokyo 2020) found her rhythm in the subsequent rounds, turning the match in her favor to claim the win. LI will now face Atheyna Bibeichi BYLON of Panama, who upset Cindy Winner DJANKEU NGAMBA of the Refugee Olympic Team with a 4:1 split decision win. Despite the loss, NGAMBA’s bronze medal is a historic achievement, making her the first Olympic medallist from the Refugee Olympic Team.
Tomorrow promises another thrilling evening of boxing at the iconic Stade Roland Garros, with finals in the Men’s 71kg, Men’s 92kg, Women’s 50kg, and Women’s 66kg categories. The action kicks off at 21:30 CET.
Find the event schedule and the results here.
