Rabat – Moroccan boxer Khadija El Mardi on Wednesday moved to the final of the World’s Boxing Championship after defeating Uzbek Mukhira Abdulayeva.
“Victory of Khadija El Mardi in the Semi-final and by the stoppage of the referee and qualification for the final of the women’s world championship,” the Moroccan Royal Federation wrote on Wednesday.
El Mardi is competing in the category of 81 kilograms for the international championship that is taking place in Istanbul between May 6 and 21.
Her much-anticipated final match will see her face off with Turkey’s Sennur Demir on May 20.
Born in 1991, El Mardi has participated in numerous regional and international competitions in the 69-75 kilograms weight class. She ranked 1st in Africa and 4th in the world in September 2020.
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In 2019, she finished third in the world championship in Ulan-Ude after defeating Welsh amateur boxer Lauren Price. The same year, she secured a gold medal in the African Games and a bronze medal in the world championship for amateur boxing.
The Moroccan boxer also won first place in TKO Afrique 2020 in Dakar. She further represented Morocco in the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016.
It is not the first time a Moroccan athlete distinguishes herself in world-class competition. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Moroccan boxing champion Mohammed Rabii completed his 10th pro fight against Mexico’s Jesus Gurrola.
Rabii’s successes were followed by Moroccans across the country, familiar or not with the rules of boxing.
Like Rabii, other Moroccan athletes gained tremendous public support and popularity within their country and abroad for their work ethic and accomplishments, including five-time world champion Amira Tahri and kickboxing champion Badr Hari.
The Moroccan Olympic and national teams have also participated in numerous international gatherings for football, boxing, kickboxing, and Taekwondo.
