MOLKA KHLIFI: THE BRONZE I WON IN YEREVAN CHANGED MY LIFE
I did boxing as a hobby but now I want to use it to change my life – Molka Khilifi
Tunisia’s teenage sensation Molka Khlifi is now basking in the glory of her memorable achievement in last year’s Junior World Boxing Championships in Yerevan, Armenia.
Molka overcame all odds to punch her way to the semi-finals, losing on points to Russia’s Leonova Kira in the lightweight division.
She returned home with a bronze medal and was the only African medallist in the global junior event.
AFBC Communications caught up with Molka and first asked her whether life had changed for the better since her achievement in Serbia.
“I felt proud of this achievement, I have now become more famous at home because everybody who sees me encourages me and thanks me for what I did,” says 18-year-old Molka, a ninth-grade student at Habib Bourguiba School in Bizerte, north of Tunisia.
So proud is Molka of her achievement that now she’s taking boxing more seriously.
“At first I did boxing as a hobby but now I aspire to use it to change my life for the better.”
Molka, whose burning ambition is to win an Olympic medal, is grateful to her family for their overwhelming support.
“My family especially my father have really supported me, my dad is my number one fan,” says Molka.
“I will strive to achieve more success for my loving dada.”
Molka started boxing in 2019 at Hached District Club in Bizerte.
“At first it wasn’t easy because I’m a girl and I was involved in what’s viewed as a violent sport,” recalls Molka who however gradually mastered the fundamentals of boxing under the expert guidance of coach Maher Al-Abdouli.
“Thanks to Abdouli I achieved a lot, I also thank our Tunisia federation especially the president (Zied Barbouche) and my national coaches who believed in my abilities.
“My special thanks to Houssem Refai, Lazhar Atwani, and our hard-working national director Montassar Ghanouni. I promise them more success in my upcoming international competitions.”
📸Tunisi’s Junior World Boxing Championships lightweight bronze medallist Molka Khlifi (second from right) with coaches from left Lazhar Attouni, national director Montassar Ghanouni and Houssem Refai.
✍🏼 AFBC Communications