Yasmine Hamza is in great shape.

Olympics in focus: Yasmine Hamza rushes from success to success

Since badminton became an Olympic sport (1992), South Tyrol has tried to provide an Olympic participant. Yasmine Hamza could achieve what has not been achieved so far. With third place at the Cameroon International, the 3-year-old from Bolzano took the next step towards Paris 19. Hamza also broke other long-term records in Cameroon.

August 28, 2023

From: pm/det

With clear two-set victories over the Indian Hrissa Dubey and Husina Kobugabe from Uganda, Yasmine Hamza reached the semi-finals of the world ranking tournament (International Series) in Cameroon's capital Yaoundè. It is her 18th medal at a world ranking tournament.

As a teenager, Hamza has already overtaken Italy's Olympic participant Jeanine Cicognini (Rio 2016) in the number of medals. Only the two-time Olympic participant Agnese Allegrini is ahead of her. And in Cameroon, Hamza set another record. She now has 74 wins (59 defeats) in the main draw of world ranking tournaments. No South Tyrolean has achieved so many before her. Record Italian champion Klaus Raffeiner (who narrowly failed to qualify for the Olympics in 2008) has 73 wins (122 defeats).

Hamza scratches the top 100

In the semi-finals in Yaoundè, Hamza was at the end of her strength. She had to pay tribute to the many tournaments recently and lost to Keisha Fatima Az Zahra from Azerbaijan (BWF No. 82) 6:21, 9:21. Hamza will move up from 109th to 101st in the world rankings by reaching the semi-finals. In the “Race to Paris” (only the results since May 1st count) she is in 69th place.

Before a short break, Hamza will play another tournament in the International Challenge category in Nigeria this week. Judith Mair from Mals is also there. Mair reached the round of 16 at a world ranking tournament in Trinidad & Tobago (International Series) last week.