French boxers Sofiane Oumiha and Estelle Mossely won Wednesday in Nowy Targ (Poland) their qualification for the Olympic Games-2024 in Paris by qualifying for the semi-finals of the European Games, after two tough fights.
Estelle Mossely (-60 kg) won her quarter-final against Donjeta Sadiku, from Kosovo, at midday with a score of 4 to 1. “It was a tough fight. We shouldn’t give in to the pressure, but we had prepared well and now we have a ticket. See you at home,” said the gold medalist in Rio in 2016.
After a good start to the fight, Mossely, 30, seemed to tire in the last round against a pugnacious boxer, but the lead taken in the first two rounds allowed her to secure the victory.
For his part, the triple world champion Sofiane Oumiha (-60 kg), 28, defeated the Turkish Bilge Kanli unanimously by the judges. “I had to be there in Paris. Qualifying a year ahead is good for morale,” said Oumiha, Olympic vice-champion in Rio.
This qualifying tournament was organized as part of the European Games, an event bringing together 29 different sports, including 19 Olympic disciplines, which is held until July 2 in Poland.
Some events such as artistic swimming acted as European Championships, while others such as boxing made it possible to obtain many quotas for the Olympic Games: 22 for each gender and 2 to 4 per weight category.
The semi-finals of Estelle Mossely and Sofiane Oumiha will take place on Friday at Nowy Targ.
