A Historic achievement by Moroccan boxer Khadija El Mardi (+81kg), as the latter was crowned world champion Sunday, after snatching the gold medal at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championship, held in New Delhi between March 15 and 26.
El Mardi displayed outstanding performance and succeeded in imposing her fighting style with direct punches and uppercuts against her overwhelmed opponent, the Kazakh Kungeibayeva Lazzat.
This heavyweight clash confirmed El Mardi’s supremacy against the Kazakh boxer, who had previously defeated El Mardi in the final round of the Mohammed VI International Boxing Trophy, which took place last February in Marrakech.
Following her achievement, the Moroccan boxer expressed her pride in being crowned champion.
“I dedicate this victory to His Majesty King Mohammed VI and to all Moroccans,” stated El Mardi, stressing that her victory was the fruit of the constant support of her coaches, the management staff, and the Royal Moroccan Boxing Federation.
“My goal now is to make Morocco more proud during the next Olympic games,” concluded El Mardi who has become the first African and Arab boxer to win gold at the IBA World Boxing Championships.
For his part, the National Technical Director at the Royal Moroccan Boxing Federation (FRMB), Othmane Fadli, expressed his immense joy with this unprecedented achievement in the history of Moroccan, Arab, and African boxing.
“The impossible is not Moroccan. Moroccan youth has immense potential,” stated Fadli, describing the Moroccan selection’s achievements during these championships as “very honorable”, as they won a gold and a bronze, proof of the evolution of Moroccan boxing.
In this regard, Moroccan coach Youssef Masrour noted that this achievement is the outcome of intense preparations and training sessions undertaken by the national selection, the last of which took place in New Delhi, shortly before the kick-off of the World Championships.
In addition to Khadija El Mardi, the Moroccan boxing selection participating in these World Championships also includes Yassmine Moutaqui (-48 kg), who won the bronze, Widad Bertal (-54 kg), who was eliminated in the second round, and Rabab Cheddar (-50 kg), who was eliminated in the quarter-finals.
The IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, which include 12 weight categories, were marked by the participation of approximately 320 boxers representing 70 countries including Morocco.