Mozambique's participation in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games suffered a significant blow with the elimination of boxer Alcinda dos Santos, reducing the number of representatives from the country to just two athletes. Hopes for a medal in boxing also vanished after the Mozambican athlete's defeat in the round of 16 in the 66 kg category.
In the decisive fight, Alcinda dos Santos faced world champion Liu Yang of China and was defeated by a unanimous 5-0 decision. The Chinese fighter's dominant performance was evident from the start, with Liu Yang receiving full points from the judges in every round, while Alcinda received lower scores.
In the first round, Liu Yang received 10 points from each of the judges, while Alcinda received 9, resulting in a score of 50-45. Despite coach Lucas Sinóia's instructions to try and reverse the situation, the Chinese boxer's advantage continued into the second round with another 50-45 score.
The third round also favored Liu Yang, who maintained her superiority and dominated the fight. Again, the Chinese fighter earned the maximum score of 10 from each judge, while Alcinda scored 9, closing the round with a 50-45 score and securing the victory with a total of 5-0.
The elimination of Alcinda dos Santos represents not only the loss of a potential medal in boxing, but also a drastic reduction in the number of Mozambican representatives at the Olympic Games. With the boxer's departure, the country will have only two athletes competing in Paris, marking a significant decrease in its Olympic presence.
Furthermore, in boxing, the competition between athletes from Portuguese-speaking African Countries (PALOP) also brought another setback, with Cape Verdean Ivanuza Morreira losing to Belgian Oshin Derieuw by a split decision of 3-2. Morreira had started the fight with an advantage, but was unable to maintain her performance.
With a reduced number of athletes and an early elimination in boxing, Mozambique faces a considerable challenge at the Paris Olympics, as it prepares to support its remaining representatives and continue the pursuit of future successes.
