A Ghanaian fighter is making historical past and placing her nation on the worldwide map for girls’s boxing. Abigail Kwartekaa Quartey has grow to be Ghana’s first feminine world boxing champion, a feat that cements her legacy within the nation’s wealthy boxing custom.
A Humble Beginning
Abigail Kwartekaa Quartey’s journey into boxing began within the streets of Jamestown, certainly one of Accra’s oldest and most historic neighborhoods. At simply 28 years previous, she has now joined the ranks of legendary Ghanaian boxers corresponding to Azumah “The Professor” Nelson, Bukom Banku, and Ike Quartey. But in contrast to them, she has needed to battle extra than simply opponents within the ring—she has additionally needed to battle in opposition to societal expectations and gender norms.
Her path to boxing was sudden. “At the time I got into boxing, I was selling rice with my aunt. I would play football with the boys in my neighborhood. I did that for a while until my brother, who is also a boxer, asked me to get gloves and join him for his training on Saturdays and Sundays,” Quartey remembers.
It was her brother who observed her athletic skills and inspired her to coach. However, not everybody in her household was as supportive. Her aunts and siblings had been strongly against her resolution to pursue boxing, typically begging her coach to dissuade her. “They hadn’t seen a woman boxing before,” she explains. “But thankfully, my coach encouraged me, and now I am a professional boxer.”
Making History within the Ring
In November, Quartey achieved a milestone that no different Ghanaian girl had earlier than—she received the WIBF World Super Bantamweight title after defeating British boxer Sangeeta Birdie on the Bukom Boxing Arena in Jamestown.
Her victory wasn’t only a private achievement; it was a second of delight for her neighborhood and the complete nation. Her coach, Ebenezer “Coach Killer” Adjei, acknowledges the importance of her title. “Her title is a big deal for her. And for the gym, the community, the nation of Ghana, Africa, and the world at large. It is not easy to win such a title, and no woman (from Ghana) has ever won such a title before.”
For Quartey, profitable the world title isn’t just about private glory—it’s about paving the best way for different girls within the sport. “There were women in boxing before me, but they were not allowed to travel outside Ghana. I became the first woman boxer to travel outside Ghana on the ticket of the Black Bombers (Ghana’s National Boxing Team), and now I am the first lady to win a world title for Ghana,” she says proudly.
Inspiring a New Generation
Quartey’s journey has not solely modified her life however has additionally impressed younger feminine boxers in Ghana. Perpetual Okaijah, an 18-year-old aspiring boxer, shares how Quartey’s story resonates together with her. “They didn’t support me in the beginning because I was the only female in the family who liked boxing. They kept telling me to go and work instead, saying ‘you are a woman, you can’t box.’ But I kept going, and eventually, they had no choice but to support me.”
Sarah Lotus Asare, a boxing coach and the venture lead for the Girls Box Tournament, believes Quartey’s victory is a turning level for girls’s boxing in Ghana. “Even for male boxers, it’s difficult to win against non-Africans because they have more resources and equipment. So Quartey’s victory is such an inspiring story, and we are really happy for her.”
A Legacy within the Making
Despite the challenges, Quartey stays decided to maintain pushing boundaries in girls’s boxing. Now, together with her title belt proudly displayed, she serves as a beacon of hope for a lot of younger girls who dream of moving into the ring.
Her success has confirmed that with resilience and dedication, boundaries could be damaged, and new paths could be cast. As she continues to coach and encourage others, Abigail Kwartekaa Quartey isn’t just Ghana’s first feminine world boxing champion—she is a trailblazer for generations to return.
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