It’s Day 6 at the Paris 2024 Olympic Boxing Tournament in the French capital. Today, the North Paris Arena is buzzing with excitement as it hosts 28 bouts across five weight classes. The action includes quarterfinals in the Women’s 54kg, Men’s 63.5kg, and Men’s 92kg categories, as well as preliminary round-of-16 bouts in the Women’s 50kg and 66kg divisions.
The morning session kicked off with an intense Women’s 50kg match between top seed Yu WU (CHN) and India’s Zareen NIKHAT. The Indian boxer put up a strong contest, but ultimately had to bow to the 2023 Asian Games gold medallist from the People’s Republic of China, who claimed a 5:0 unanimous decision victory. In the quarterfinals, WU will face Thailand’s Chuthamat RAKSAT, a familiar opponent who she defeated in the final at last year’s Asian Games in Hangzhou. RAKSAT advanced to the next round after overcoming Sabina BOBOKULOVA with a 5:0 unanimous decision.
Rio 2016 bronze medallist and 2023 Pan American Games bronze medallist, Colombia’s Ingrit Lorena VALENCIA VICTORIA, also made her mark today, outclassing 2023 Pacific Games champion Monique SURACI of Australia with a commanding 5:0 unanimous decision win. VALENCIA’s victory reaffirms her status as a top contender in the Women’s 50kg division.
In the Women’s 66kg event, top-seeded Busenaz SURMENELI (TUR) made her Olympic debut in Paris, advancing through the round-of-16 with a decisive 5:0 victory over Poland’s Aneta RYGIELSKA. SURMENELI, the reigning Tokyo 2020 champion, will next face 2023 Asian Games silver medallist Janjaem SUWANNAPHENG (THA), who emerged victorious after a hard-fought 4:1 split decision win against Brigitte MBABI of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In the same weight division, Algeria’s Imane KHELIF moved forward in the tournament as her opponent, Angela CARINI of Italy, abandoned in round one.
In the Women’s 54kg class, Yuan CHANG (CHN) raised her hands in celebration as she earned a spot in the semifinals and consequently an Olympic medal. She defeated two-time Olympian and top seed Stanimira PETROVA (BUL) in a thrilling bout. PETROVA edged out the first round 3:2, but CHANG, the 2023 Asian Games gold medallist, found her rhythm in the second and third rounds, ultimately winning 4:1 via split decision.
Later in the session, 2023 Pan American Games gold medallist Wyatt SANFORD of Canada fulfilled his dream to become the first Canadian to win an Olympic boxing medal since 1996 as he secured his place in the Men’s 63.5kg semifinals by outscoring Ruslan ABDULLAEV (UZB) 4:1.
In the Men’s 92kg event, 2023 European Games bronze medallist Enmanuel REYES PLA (SPA) delivered an excellent tactical performance to secure Spain a medal. He advanced to the semifinals with a unanimous decision victory over Belgium’s Victor SCHELSTRAETE, ensuring his place on the podium and continuing his impressive run in Paris.
The action will resume this afternoon at 15:30 (CET) and continue this evening at 20:00 (CET) with two more sessions of exciting boxing.
Find the event schedule and the results here.
