What competition is taking place in Dakar?
The Youth Olympic Games bring together several sports under the International Olympic Committee. World Boxing announced 114 athletes from 73 nations for the boxing tournament. Ten weight classes are on the programme: five for men and five for women.
The quarter-finals are spread across 9 and 10 November. The semi-finals are scheduled for Wednesday 11 November, followed by ten finals on Thursday 12 November. These results therefore concern the youth competition, with Youth Olympic medals at stake.
World Boxing · official tournament guide and programme ↗ · French Olympic team / CNOSF · boxing results and draw ↗
Changazi earns the verdict of all five judges
Zaheer Changazi beat Saudi Arabia’s Naif Ghazwani by five judges to nil. The Swedish Olympic Committee reports that all five scorecards gave him each of the three rounds. His next announced opponent is Australia’s Marley Dodd on 11 November.
His story spans several countries: the Swedish committee says he grew up in Pakistan, moved to Sweden at eleven and then took up boxing at Hammarby. At Dakar, he represents Sweden.
Souto also reaches the last four
At 65 kg, Pablo Souto beat Makieve Bellille of Trinidad and Tobago by five judges to nil. The Spanish Olympic Committee confirms the unanimous victory and his place in the semi-finals. It announces a meeting with Artur Eytan Prohnevsky on 11 November.
The French Olympic team’s results page corroborates both victories and the next-round pairings. Those bouts have yet to take place: no finalist or champion is being named here.
Spanish Olympic Committee · Souto qualifies,9 November ↗ · French Olympic team / CNOSF · boxing results and draw ↗
Why are they already guaranteed a medal?
The Swedish and Spanish reports explain the rule for this competition: both losing semi-finalists receive bronze, with no third-place bout. Reaching the last four therefore guarantees a medal, while silver and gold remain to be won.
For Changazi and Souto, the next round will be about earning a place in the final. Their 9 November qualifications are confirmed; the semi-finals are still to come.
Swedish Olympic Committee · Changazi qualifies,9 November ↗ · Spanish Olympic Committee · Souto qualifies,9 November ↗
A new chapter for the next generation
Our view: following these Games means watching careers as they take shape. A youth medal is an important milestone; what follows will still depend on development, coaching and opportunities to compete.