Cynthia Ogunsemilore boxed her way to gold at the recent Africa Boxing Qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal. The Commonwealth Games bronze medallist now sets her sights on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games where the 21-year-old ambition is to claim a first boxing gold medal for Nigeria. OLALEKAN OKUSAN writes.
Cynthia Ogunsemilore came to boxing prominence at the monthly Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame (LBHF) contest where she won the title 12 years ago. Her journey to the ring started when a boxing coach and friend to her father noticed the potential in her and convinced her parents to allow her take to the sport.
Now Ogunsemilore is on her way to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after picking her ticket at the Africa Boxing Qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal where she defeated a strong field to qualify.
The journey to Dakar and Paris took a lot of grit and determination from Ogunsemilore, who grew up in the Somolu area of Lagos State. In fact at some point in her life, Ogunsemilore nearly abandoned her Olympic dream for the lure of going abroad.
“It was not in my plan to be a boxer, but it was my coach who was my dad‘s friend who pushed me to become one,” she said after picking the ticket to Paris in Dakar. “People doubted me, but I kept telling myself that one day, one night, I’m going to represent my country and be the best and this is the day, this is the time and this is the year.”
Ogunsemilore continued: “My coach chose boxing for me. He just picked me up and said he knew I would do a lot in boxing. I was surprised because I looked slender but he said I can always start trying and I will make it. So, I started learning and he supported me, bought me different things like canvas and many more.
“From there, I started developing interest and that was how I started learning and now, I’m good at it. Also, my parents tried their best with the little they have because I come from a very poor family and I don’t really expect much from them because they are also managing themselves but my coach did a lot. He stood by me and I am very grateful.”
In the Olympics ticket bout against Zambia’s Felistars Nkandu in the women’s 60kg, Ogunsemilore was never threatened by her Zambian opponent as she used her lengthy range and strong jab to score early points. The Zambian was on the receiving end of some clean shots that twice sent her to the canvas before the referee stopped the contest in the second round.
Ogunsemilore went ahead to complete her sojourn in Dakar with a dominant win over Algeria’s Hadjila Khelif in the final match to claim the gold medal for Nigeria.
After she picked up her ticket to Paris in Dakar, a teary Ogunsemilore simply said: “This is the time for me to shine, for people to know me.”
According to her, she cried because “it has been a long time, I have been dreaming about the Olympic Games, in fact since 2018.”
Looking back on the Dakar challenge now, Ogunsemilore said: “My journey was great and smooth. It was so good that I didn’t face any problem and I was really happy with it. Fortunately for me, no fight was too tough for me. The Algerian boxer, whom I thought will be the only one that can give me a tough fight, happened to be the boxer I defeated easily.”
Ogunsemilore has won several laurels at the national, continental, and international levels and has become a role model for young girls not only in her community but in Africa, in and out of the ring. She is proud of her achievements in the sport thus far and is grateful to boxing for the positive impact it has had on her life.
She said: “Boxing has impacted a lot in my life which I never expected. It has changed so many things in my life and brought about so many things my way. So, it means a lot to me to box. Despite the challenges I have faced as a boxer from people who believe I have chosen the wrong sport, I thank God that all has now become history with my ticket to Paris in my hand.
“Boxing has taught me a lot in my life, it changed so many things in my life. For instance, there were some bad friends I used to mingle with back then. When boxing came in, I quit my friendship with them. Boxing has fetched me many things in life. When I went to the Commonwealth Games, I could not believe what I came back with and it was boxing that really helped me,” Ogunsemilore added.
The trained hair stylist said she cannot quit boxing for anything now. “I have gone far in boxing as I have been doing it for 12 years now and I want to achieve more which is why I’m yet to quit. I cannot quit boxing for anything. Truly, I’m a lady and eventually I will have to quit but it is not the time now.”
Since turning pro in 2018, Ogunsemilore has had six fights with six wins. She hopes to continue the winning streak in Paris.
“I’m a professional boxer as I have left amateur fights since 2018. I’m a professional boxer with six fights, six wins with two knockouts,” she disclosed.
Ogunsemilore wants to win Nigeria’s first boxing gold medal at the next Olympic Games in France. However, for her Paris dream to come true, Ogunsemilore recognizes the place of preparation and wants individual and corporate organizations to come to the aid of the Nigerian boxing team under their coaches led by Anthony Konyegwachie.
“The support I will need is sponsors. If there is anyone that can sponsor a training tour for us so that we can train with different boxers abroad for me to keep fit, it will be highly appreciated. I want to put Nigeria on the world map to become the first female Olympic Games gold medallist in boxing for Nigeria. By training and preparing well using world-class facilities, I believe I will win a medal at the Olympic Games. I am not going there to just win a medal. My target in Paris is for me to come back home with the gold medal,” Ogunsemilore stated.
