“Thirty Million people were waiting for this moment”, says a delighted Hasanboy Dusmatov after becoming boxing’s first gold medalist of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
August 14th, 2016 / IBA
Sunday morning saw the first boxing champion of Rio 2016 crowned, as Uzbekistan’s Hasanboy Dusmatov won the gold in emphatic fashion against Colombia’s first-ever boxing silver medalist Yurberjen Martinez. It was a controlled performance from Dusmatov, who had battled through to the final after a superb Semi-Final against the American Nico Hernandez on Friday, and he was paraded around the venue on his coach’s shoulders and draped in the Uzbekistan flag following the unanimous points victory.
“It is hard to express everything I am feeling right now, but I am incredibly happy and I cannot wait to get the gold medal around my neck. First and foremost, I send love back to my country because I know that my family and President and the whole country are watching even though it is 3 o’clock in the morning. Thirty million people have been waiting for this moment. I know my family will be happy for me and I am thrilled to be champion. I want to thank Rio for an amazing Olympic Games experience,” said a delighted Dusmatov after his win.
The Light Flyweight silver medal went to Colombia’s Yurberjen Martinez, with Cuba’s Johanys Argilagos and American Nico Hernandez winning the bronze medals.
