Bangladeshi-American boxer Zinnat Ferdous faces challenge representing Bangladesh in 2024 Olympics
Despite boxing for the first time in 2019, she succeeded and went professional in 2021 as a first-generation Bangladeshi. She wants to represent her homeland in the Olympics
Bangladesh born New York native boxer Zinnat Ferdous is facing challenges in her bid to win the gold, says Fox5NY.
Despite boxing for the first time in 2019, she succeeded and went professional in 2021 as a first-generation Bangladeshi. She wants to represent her homeland in the Olympics
"I was ranked number seven. I've won two-time New York City ring master's tournaments, and I'm a two-time national Golden Globe medalist. I've won the USA women's boxing championships back in 2023. I've won the 2024 Dominican Republic Open, the Copa Independencia Tournament, and the inaugural Mandela South African Boxing Club just a few months ago, so seven, seven big tournaments," said Ferdous.
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Her husband, a former boxer, took her to her first match in 2017.
"It's making history. I'd be the first woman boxer to ever represent Bangladesh in the Olympics, and the first athlete from Bangladesh to potentially … win a medal."
Standing at 5'4 weighing 110 pounds, the light flyweight packs a voracious punch. By day, a Global Program Manager for GOOGLE, running a $120 million program.
Her trainer, Colin Morgan of "Bout Fight Club NYC," a professional boxer with 40 years of experience training top international champions, trains Zinnat six days a week.
The two met in 2019 when Zinnat was sparring with an opponent 50 lbs. heavier.
Morgan was impressed with "how she moved."
"I'm like, I think that she got something here."
A week later, he approached Zinnat with an unbelievable proposition. "What if I tell you in two and a half years in the Olympics and I could get you there? And she says, I'll be done for that. I'll be in."
"I chose to, to represent Bangladesh, because as a first generation American, it allowed me the opportunity to get me closer to my heritage and help elevate sports and women athletes in Bangladesh," according to Ferdous.
Bangladesh has never won a medal at the Olympics
With her husband and family on board, her path to the Olympics seemed certain.
Until, she received a letter from the Olympics Federation stating her registration wasn't received.
Therefore, the entire Bangladesh Boxing team was disqualified from participating in the Paris World Qualifying Tournament in Bangkok.
Devastated Ferdous continued to train with hopes of securing a Wildcard, a system allowing international federations to invite promising athletes who do not meet the usual qualification criteria to compete.
That last resort was dashed after the Bangladeshi Boxing Federation missed a deadline. Earlier this year, they missed registrations for two world qualifying tournaments, citing "technical shortfalls."
Zinnat sent us a statement, saying, "This situation highlights the challenges athletes face, where factors outside our control can derail years of hard work."
