By Aadi Nair
PARIS (Reuters) – Refugee Olympic team boxer Cindy Ngamba said she hopes that by succeeding on a global stage at the Paris Games she will inspire refugees around the world and give them cause for hope.
Ngamba, who has lived in England for 15 years but is still awaiting citizenship, beat Canadian Tammara Thibeault on a split decision in a middleweight round of 16 clash on Wednesday to progress to the quarter-finals.
If she is able to win her quarter-final bout against Frenchwoman Davina Michel on Aug. 4, she will ensure a first-ever medal for the refugee Olympic team, which was established in 2016.
“Refugees that are going through life, through so many issues and so many obstacles, they don’t believe in themselves, they feel like it’s the end of the world,” Ngamba said.
“I hope that they’re watching me and can see that through anything in life that I’ve gone through, I was able to overcome it. I know that in my next fight, I’ll be able to overcome that.
“I’m just one of millions of refugees all around the world, one of billions of humans all around the world, and I hope that I gave them motivation. I gave myself motivation. I’m taking each fight as it comes.”
It was far from smooth sailing for Ngamba in her round of 16 bout as she found herself trailing on the judges’ scorecards in the first round after a slow start.
The 25-year-old was able to rally and win the next two rounds to score a win over against former world, Commonwealth Games and Pan American Games champion Thibeault, who is also Ngamba’s friend.
“When I lost the first round, I went into my corner. They told me I’m down,” Ngamba said.
“I thought, ‘okay, this is like training. Stick to the techniques, stick to your plan, adapt to anything that your opponent brings’.
“That’s the thing with boxing. You’re friends with someone, and next thing you know, you’re in the ring with them. You can’t be emotional about it, you just have to do your job and get on with it.”
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Paris; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
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