Vietnamese boxer advances to world’s championship finals

Vietnamese boxer Nguyen Thi Tam wins a match at the Women’s World Boxing Championship in India, March 2023. Photo by VnExpress

In New Delhi, India, Tam won with an overall score of 4-1 against French opponent Lkhadiri Wassila to enter the final in the 50 kg category, becoming the first Vietnamese boxer to enter a world championship final.

Tam won the first round with many straight punches and hooks from both left and right.

She lost the second round when Wassila learned to avoid her attacks.

Tam kept a distance in the last round to avoid attacks from Wassila. She effectively threw three punches and three hooks from the right arm at the end of the round, convincing four of the five coaches to name her the winner.

In the final, Tam will play Zareen Nikhat of India, who won the championship in the 52 kg category last year.

Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Huong won bronze medal at the tournament in 2019.

Tam, from the northern province of Ninh Binh, has won the Asian gold twice, in 2017 and 2022, and an Asian Games bronze in 2018. She also won two SEA Games gold medals.

Advancing to the Women’s World Boxing Championships guarantees her at least a silver medal and US$50,000 in prize money, as long as a ticket to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.