Ngamba is unable to return to Cameroon because of her sexuality – with homosexuality in the country punishable with up to five years in prison.
However, after 15 years in England, she is still fighting to be granted a visa and UK citizenship.
Five years ago she was on the verge of being deported after attending what she thought was a routine signing-on process to let authorities know she was still in the country.
Ngamba was arrested, along with her brother Kennet, and sent from Manchester to a detention camp in London, before being released the following day.
Before Paris 2024, GB Boxing unsuccessfully tried to add Ngamba to its ranks for the Olympic programme, even writing a request to the Home Office to grant her British citizenship.
But she then won a scholarship with the IOC refugee team, and was the first female boxer to represent the team at a Games.
Ngamba made her amateur debut aged 20 in 2018 and would go on accumulate 26 wins and just five losses.
She won the English national championships three times in that period.
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Source link : https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/articles/cd0j2pd53vdo
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Publish date : 2025-01-21 14:02:37
