King Congratulates Widad Bertal on World Boxing Championship Victory
Doha – King Mohammed VI has sent a congratulatory message to Moroccan boxer Widad Bertal after she clinched the world title in the 52-54 kg category at the 2025 Women's World Boxing Championships in Nis, Serbia.
The King expressed his warmest congratulations to the world champion, noting that her achievement stems from her perseverance and ambition to raise Morocco's flag on international podiums.
He shared the feelings of joy and pride following her deserved victory and wished her continued success in future competitions.
Bertal, 25, defeated Turkey's Hatice Akbas, the 2022 world champion and 2024 Olympic silver medalist, in the final with a score of 5-2. She advanced to the championship match after eliminating Serbia's Sara Cirkovic 4-3 in the semifinals.
'This gold medal is for the first sportsman, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Moroccan people, and everyone who supported me,' Bertal told SNRTnews after her victory. The champion, born on August 31, 1999, added, 'This is just the beginning of my career and I will be realizing more dreams.'
Speaking to the press upon her arrival at Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca today, she stated that her world championship victory would serve as motivation to achieve similar success at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Bertal's journey to the world title includes an impressive string of achievements. She won three consecutive African Championships from 2022 to 2024 and earned a bronze medal at the 2022 African Amateur Boxing Championships in Maputo.
She becomes the second Moroccan woman to win gold at the World Boxing Championships, following Khadija El Mardi's victory in New Delhi in 2023.
The tournament success extended beyond Bertal's gold medal. Her teammate Hasna Larti secured a bronze medal in the 75-81 kg category after defeating Bulgaria's Victoriya Kebikava by RSC before falling to Russia's Saltanat Medenova in the semifinals.
Nabil Hilmi, Vice President of the Royal Moroccan Boxing Federation, praised both boxers' achievements while acknowledging the challenges faced during the competition.
'Winning these medals was not easy, even though our goal was to achieve more,' Hilmi said, expressing hope for continued success in both men's and women's boxing.
The triumph at the championships did not stop with athletic performances. On Monday, Oumaima Smlali was named Best Referee and Judge of the tournament.
The championships, held from March 8-16, represent another milestone for Moroccan women's boxing, building on recent international successes and promising a bright future for the sport in the country. Tags: King Mohammed VIMoroccan boxing
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