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Ukraine's boxer Khyzhniak reaches semifinals in Paris, securing Olympic medal

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Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Khyzhniak defeated Brazilian Wanderley Pereira at the Olympics.
Ukraine's Oleksandr Khyzhniak celebrates his victory over Brazil's Wanderley De Souza Pereira at the end of their men's 80kg quarter-final boxing match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the North Paris Arena, in Villepinte on Aug. 2, 2024. (Photo by Mohd Rasfan/AFP via Getty Images)

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Khyzhniak defeated Brazilian Wanderley Pereira in the 80kg weight category quarterfinals at the Olympic Games in Paris on Aug. 3.

The 29-year-old Ukrainian won by unanimous decision, with a score of 30-26.

Khyzhniak has secured a spot in the semifinals, guaranteeing him at least a bronze medal, as the Olympic regulations stipulate that there is no third-place match.

In the semifinals, Khyzhniak will face off two-time Olympic champion Cuban Arlen Lopez on Aug. 4.

Ukraine has so far won two medals at the Paris Olympics. Shooter Serhiy Kulish won a silver medal in the 50m rifle three-position event. Fencer Olga Kharlan won bronze in the individual sabre event.

Khyzhniak, a silver medalist at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, started in Paris with a victory over Pylyp Akilov, a Hungarian boxer of Ukrainian descent. He won by a split decision.

Khyzhniak was one step away from a gold medal in the 75 kg weight category at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Brazilian Hebert Conceicao defeated Khyzhniak by knockout.

Ukrainian high jumpers Mahuchikh, Gerashchenko reach Olympics finals
Ukrainian high jumpers Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Iryna Gerashchenko qualified for the 2024 Olympics on Aug. 2. They will represent Ukraine in the high jump finals on Aug. 4.
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Kateryna Hodunova

News Editor

Kateryna Hodunova is a News Editor at the Kyiv Independent. She previously worked as a sports journalist in several Ukrainian outlets and was the deputy chief editor at Suspilne Sport. Kateryna covered the 2022 Olympics in Beijing and was included in the Special Mentions list at the AIPS Sport Media Awards. She holds a bachelor's degree in political journalism from Taras Shevchenko University and a master's degree in political science from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

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