Boxing tournament at the Olympic Games started with 18 opening bouts at the Arena Paris Nord in France’s capital city. Altogether thirteen weight categories among men and women are represented at this competition. Boxers from 69 countries, 124 men and 124 women, are competing at the world’s biggest sports event. European boxing will be presented by 90 boxers from 26 countries. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine have their representatives at the Olympics’ boxing tournament.

Team from Europe with the most boxers is Ireland. They compete with four men and six women boxers. France, Italy and Turkey have eight athletes each, while Great Britain and Spain have six boxers each. There are nine European countries with one boxer at the Olympics, and they are: Armenia, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Kosovo, Montenegro, Netherlands, Romania and Slovakia.

On the first day of the competition, fifteen European boxers were in the ring. Ten women and five men boxed for the pass to the next stage. Five of them came out victorious. Radoslav Rosenov from Bulgaria in the 63,5 kg weight category, and Aykutsun Kaan from Turkey, boxing in 80 kg, are now in the last 16 stage. Among women, 54 kg and 60 kg athletes were in the ring. Akbas Hatice from Turkey (54 kg) has won in a close match against Charley Davison from Great Britain. In the 60 kg weight category, Italy’s Alessia Mesiano was better than Gizem Ozer from Turkey, while Donjeta Sadiku from Kosovo defeated boxer from Thailand Thananya Somnuek. 

Second day of the Paris’ Olympics will see 24 bouts that will be boxed in three sessions. Altogether 23 boxers from Europe are on programme today.