Latest news with #Bertal
Morocco World
18-03-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
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
Morocco World
18-03-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Morocco's Oumaima Smlali Wins Best Referee Award at World Boxing Championship
Rabat – Moroccan boxing referee Oumaima Smlali has been named the Best Referee at the World Boxing Championship, which took place in Nis, Serbia, from March 9 to 16. The Moroccan Royal Boxing Federation announced the news on Monday in a statement on their social media. The federation congratulated Smlali for the recognition and described her as an 'example of dedication and sporting excellence.' This recognition adds to Morocco's success during the tournament, which saw boxers Widad Bertal and Hasnaa Larti also win medals. Bertal secured the gold medal in the 54kg category, while Larti earned the bronze medal in the 81kg. After her win, Bertal expressed her pride for claiming the gold medal, which she dedicated to King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan people. 'This gold medal is for the first sportsman, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Moroccan people, and everyone who supported me,' the Moroccan athlete told SNRT News. For Bertal, 'This is just the beginning,' as she is keen on achieving further success and winning more titles. Nabil Hilmi, Vice President of the Royal Moroccan Boxing Federation, commended the performance of both boxers and acknowledged the challenges they encountered. 'Winning these medals was not easy, even though our goal was to achieve more,' he said. Hilmi noted that Morocco was close to winning two more medals, but faced tough challenges, including a lack of experience and difficult draws against top-ranked fighters. 'We hope to build on this success and achieve even better results in the future for both the men's and women's teams,' he concluded. Tags: BoxingMoroccoReferee
Morocco World
17-03-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Who Is Widad Bertal, the Moroccan Boxer Who Won Gold at the World Championships?
Rabat – Moroccan boxer Widad Bertal won the gold medal in the 54kg category at the Women's World Boxing Championships in Nis, Serbia on Sunday. Her victory added another major achievement to her already impressive career. After her win, Bertal expressed her joy and dedicated her gold medal to King Mohammed VI – calling him the 'first sportsman' – as well as to the Moroccan people. She also thanked Jouad Belhaj, the president of the Royal Moroccan Boxing Federation, along with her national team coaches and her club, Energic Boxing Club. 'This gold medal is for the first sportsman, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Moroccan people, and everyone who supported me,' Bertal told SNRTnews following her win. Bertal's road to the world title was not easy. She missed an important training camp in Belgrade due to an injury but was able to resume preparation in Montenegro. Her hard work paid off as she dominated her opponents in the tournament and eventually defeated Turkey's Hatice Akbas in the final match. Born on August 31, 1999, Bertal is no stranger to success. She has already won the African Championship three times in a row, in 2022, 2023, and 2024. She also won one of the bronze medals at the 2022 African Amateur Boxing Championships held in Maputo, Mozambique. For Bertal, 'This is just the beginning' and she is keen on achieving further success and winning more titles. In addition to Bertal's victory, Morocco also celebrated the bronze medal Sanaa Larti won in the 81kg category. Speaking about the team's performance, Nabil Hilmi, the Vice President of the Royal Moroccan Boxing Federation, commended both boxers for their achievements. 'Winning these medals was not easy, even though our goal was to achieve more,' Hilmi said. He noted that Morocco was close to winning two more medals, but faced tough challenges, including a lack of experience and difficult draws against top-ranked fighters. Hilmi noted the need for continued effort and a collaborative approach to ensure Moroccan boxing remains competitive on the world stage. 'We hope to build on this success and achieve even better results in the future for both the men's and women's teams,' he said.
