Tunisia’s fast-rising Molka Khalifi is one of the three African boxers in the semi-finals at IBA Youth World Boxing Championships in Budva
October 31st, 2024 / IBA Youth World Boxing Championships
Africa is assured of three medals at the IBA Youth Men’s and Women’s World Boxing Championships currently taking place in Budva, Montenegro.
The medals are already in the bag after three boxers punched their way to the semi-finals. They are Morocco’s men’s minimumweight Othman Chadghour, who outpointed North Korea’s Kwon Kim, and two Tunisians, lightweight Molka Khalifi, and light-middleweight Islem Nadari, who saw off Morocco’s Niama Bousellam in the quarterfinals.
Tunisian boxing sensation Molka Khalifi maintained her unbeaten run squeezing a hard-earned 3-2 point win over Russia’s Sofia Molchanova to qualify for the semi-finals starting today, 31 October.
Khalifi will meet North Korea’s Su Rim Son in the semis while Nadari takes on Türkiye’s Yonca Yilmaz and Morocco’s Chadghour will battle it out with Azerbaijan’s Bilalhabasi Nazarov in the semi-finals. The Tunisian put up a splendid performance in edging out her Russian opponent in the quarterfinals, proving that the experience she gained in last year’s Junior World Boxing Championships in Yerevan, Armenia, is standing her in good stead, and is a firm favorite for the lightweight gold medal.
Khalifi was the sole African medallist at the IBA Junior World Boxing Championships in 2023, settling for a bronze medal after losing to Russia’s Kira Leonova in the semi-finals in Yerevan.
Africa’s hopes of having more boxers qualify for the semis-finals were dashed when Lesotho’s welterweight Reitumetse Mokoma, and two Tunisians, light-flyweight Hidaya Tlili and middleweight Ala Talbi lost their quarter-final bouts on Wednesday, 30 October.
Mokoma was stopped by China’s Shanatibieke Dina in 2 minutes 26 seconds of the second round, Ala Talbi too was stopped by Türkiye’s Dilara Sak in just 29 seconds of the first round, and Hidaya Tlili lost 5-0 to Carlaigh Peake of IBA Neutral team.
A total of 10 countries from Africa entered the Budva tournament with Morocco having the largest delegation of 17 boxers – nine men and eight female boxers followed by Tunisia with 10 boxers – five men and five women boxers. The other African countries represented are DR Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Lesotho, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The IBA paid for accommodation of all the participating teams.
The IBA offered $500,000 USD prize money fund for IBA Youth World Boxing Championships. All those proceeded to the quarterfinals in all 25 youth men’s and women’s weight categories will receive prize money. Quarterfinalists are to receive $1,000 each, bronze medallists will get $2,000, silver medallists are going to be awarded $4,000. For the gold medals, the award is $8,000.
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Media contacts:
Elena Sobol, Head of Communications and PR, International Boxing Association: elena.sobol@iba.sport
