Olympic Boxing Results: Chang Yuan Claims Women's Boxing Gold at Paris 2024

In a historic moment at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Chang Yuan of China secured the gold medal in the women’s 54kg boxing division. On August 8, at Stade Roland-Garros, Chang achieved a decisive 5-0 victory over Hatice Akbas of Türkiye, marking a significant milestone for Chinese Olympic boxing.

Chang Yuan of China (Right) won against Hatice Akbas of Turkey (Left) in the Women's 54kg Boxing Championships at the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Picture by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Chang Yuan: Breaking New Ground

Chang Yuan’s triumph represents a groundbreaking achievement for boxing in China. She is the first female boxer from the People's Republic of China to win an Olympic gold medal, showcasing remarkable skill and determination throughout her bout.

Reflecting on her victory, Chang expressed her pride and hope for future success: “I’ve given the team from China the best I could, the gold medal. Hopefully, others can do the same.” The emotional moment of hearing the national anthem and seeing the flag raised was a highlight of her Olympic experience.

Dominant Performance

Chang Yuan demonstrated her dominance from the outset, with her speed and precision overwhelming Akbas. She only conceded a single point from one judge, underscoring her near-perfect performance. Her combination of swift footwork and powerful strikes left no doubt about her superiority in the ring.

In a post-match conference, Chang highlighted the positive impact of boxing on women, challenging traditional perceptions of female fragility. “Boxing can make women more confident because women are perceived as more fragile in terms of shape or strength. But boxing is an excellent sport for women to participate in,” she remarked.

Hatice Akbas and Other Medals

While Hatice Akbas settled for silver, she remained optimistic about her future prospects. “It wasn’t my best fight,” Akbas admitted. “I was tired, and my opponent was more active and dynamic. But it's not bad.” She is already looking ahead, predicting a gold medal at the next Olympic Games.

Hatice Akbas (Above) brought home the Silver medal for Turkey in the 54kg Women's Boxing division.

Joining Akbas and Chang Yuan on the podium were Pang Cholmi from North Korea and Im Aeji from South Korea, who both earned bronze medals after their semi-final losses. Their performances added to the excitement and competitiveness of the women’s 54kg boxing event.

For more updates on Olympic boxing and the latest results, stay tuned to our coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympics.