Rabat – Moroccan boxing referee Oumaima Smlali has been named the Best Referee at the World Boxing Championship, which took place in Nis, Serbia, from March 9 to 16.
The Moroccan Royal Boxing Federation announced the news on Monday in a statement on their social media. The federation congratulated Smlali for the recognition and described her as an “example of dedication and sporting excellence.”
This recognition adds to Morocco’s success during the tournament, which saw boxers Widad Bertal and Hasnaa Larti also win medals. Bertal secured the gold medal in the 54kg category, while Larti earned the bronze medal in the 81kg.
After her win, Bertal expressed her pride for claiming the gold medal, which she dedicated to King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan people.
“This gold medal is for the first sportsman, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Moroccan people, and everyone who supported me,” the Moroccan athlete told SNRT News.
For Bertal, “This is just the beginning,” as she is keen on achieving further success and winning more titles.
Nabil Hilmi, Vice President of the Royal Moroccan Boxing Federation, commended the performance of both boxers and acknowledged the challenges they encountered. “Winning these medals was not easy, even though our goal was to achieve more,” he said.
Hilmi noted that Morocco was close to winning two more medals, but faced tough challenges, including a lack of experience and difficult draws against top-ranked fighters.
“We hope to build on this success and achieve even better results in the future for both the men’s and women’s teams,” he concluded.
