Panama proved too strong for refugee boxer, with Bolton’s Cindy Ngamba beaten by Assena Bailo in the women’s middleweight semi-final

Cindy Ngamba, a refugee boxer from Bolton, was agile, daring and unafraid of a size disadvantage, but despite making Olympic history on Thursday night, she still lost and missed out on gold.

The 25-year-old had become the first member of the Olympic refugee team to medal when she reached the middleweight semifinals on Thursday night, but she lost by split decision in her semifinal against the powerful Panamanian Atheyna Bylon.

Ngamba found combinations and speed of thought to match that power and, after a first-round loss, landed his first effective streak of strikes in the first round to secure a second-round win.

She briefly left enough space to shock her opponent in the second round, but Byron was judged to have narrowly beaten her opponent in the third round and advanced to the final.

Ngamba has won the hearts of many viewers in France, Britain and beyond, with the mostly French crowd chanting “Cindy” in unison on Thursday night.

Cindy Ngamba was defeated in the Olympic semifinals on Thursday night.

Refugee Ngamba defeated by Panamanian Athena Bailo in split decision at French Open

Ngamba is one of the favourites to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with fans chanting her name

She felt she might have won, and when the verdict was announced, there was booing.

But despite all her efforts in the competition, the result was not what she wanted.

This was in stark contrast to the other semifinal, in which China’s Li Qian defeated Australia’s Caitlin Parker in a tight battle.

Ngamba’s participation in the Olympics is testament to the hard work of British Boxing, which has been working with her for more than two years and recruited her to its elite boxing program in Sheffield.

At her side on Thursday was Darren Maher, the Merseyside-based coach who has been helped by the England squad to offer her support.

But other British coaches – Lee Pullen, Dave Alloway, Gary Hale and Graham Alderson, as well as performance director Rob McCracken – played a major role in her development.

Bello took a knee in the Paris boxing ring to confirm his victory

Ngamba became the first refugee Olympic team member to win a medal at the Olympics and has been supported for two years by British Boxing in Sheffield

Ngamba is unable to represent England as she is still seeking British citizenship and a British passport. She came to the UK 14 years ago to be reunited with her father.

But joining the refugee ranks meant she was recruited into a cause for which she has been a standard-bearer and, ultimately, a fighter.