• Cindy Ngamba overcomes her difficult beginning to secure a spot at the Paris Olympics
• Ngamba's Medal quest takes centre stage at the Olympics
• The boxer reveals her satisfaction after the intense contest

Born in Cameroon and having moved to England in 2009, the 25-year-old is unable to return home because of her sexuality. Homosexuality remains a criminal offence in her country, Cameroon. 

Settling in England has also not been rosy for Ngamba, while Great Britain’s boxing association has supported her citizenship request to the Home Office a number of times, it has, however, been with no success.

Cindy Ngamba’s journey to Paris

After 15 years of residing in England, a place she now sees as home, Cindy Ngamba is still struggling with the process of acquiring a visa and British citizenship. She is also unable to return to Cameroon because of her sexuality, with homosexuality in the country punishable with up to five years in prison.

Five years ago, Ngamba and her brother Kennet were arrested in Manchester and sent to a detention camp in London, before being released the following day.

"Imagine thinking you're just going to sign then go back to your house to go about your day, and then you're put in the back of a van with handcuffs on," Ngamba told BBC Sport.

School was tough for her, faced bullying and loneliness until she discovered boxing by chance at her local youth club in Bolton. 

Initially, with no other girls to train with, she trained with boys but soon started travelling for fights. She won her first of three national titles in 2019.

Without a British passport, Ngamba could not have fought for Team GB in the ongoing Summer Olympics. However, her aspiration to participate in the Games remained intact after she won a scholarship with the IOC refugee team. 

Her quest for a medal at the Olympics

With a decisive win over France’s Davina Michel in the 75kg quarter-final, Britain-based boxer Cindy Ngamba has guaranteed herself an Olympic medal, at least a bronze, and could be the first to achieve this for the IOC’s refugee team. 

“It means the world to me to be the first-ever refugee athlete to win a medal,” Ngamba mentioned after the fight. 

“I hope I can change the [colour of] the medal on my next fight – in fact, I will change it,” she declared. 

Ngamba narrowly defeated Canadian fighter Tammara Thibeault in the first round, with a close score of 3-2 on the judges' scorecards. She will next compete against Atheyna Bylon from Panama on Thursday, 8 August, for a spot in the gold-medal match.

Ngamba’s reaction after her last contest

After her last contest, Ngamba felt both relieved and determined, happy with how she did but already focused on her next challenge.

“I was fighting a very tough opponent today. A lot of people were not cheering for me. But I listened to my team, I listened to my coaches and I listened to myself. I stuck to the tactics and I stayed calm and composed. I’m happy that I got the job done. Hopefully, in the next one, I will also get the job done. No, not hopefully. I will get it done.”

In May, Ngamba made history as the first refugee athlete to qualify for the Olympic boxing tournament, securing a spot in the Games through qualification rather than selection after winning an Italian tournament. 

Many people all over the world are, however, hopeful she gets to wrap up her Olympics campaign with a gold medal.

Paris Olympics 2024: Irish Rhasidat Adeleke eases into semifinal as Nigerian athletes disappoint

Previously, TheRadar reported that Irish sprinter of Nigerian descent, Rhasidat Adeleke, comfortably won her 400m heat to ease into Wednesday's semi-finals at the Olympic Games in Paris, clocking 50.09 in her 400m heat. 

Adeleke was so fast that she confidently strolled through the final 30 metres of the race, even at that, no other athlete was able to beat her to it.