Meet Ornella Sathoud, who holds a PhD in Analytical Chemistry and is representing Ghana in boxing at the All Africa Games

USA-based Ghanaian boxer Ornella (Nelly) Sathoud is looking forward to making a big splash in Rabat, Morocco as Ghana participates in female boxing for the first time at the African Games.

Among Ghana’s boxing team is female boxer Ornella, a previously unknown athlete until she was named in the Ghana’s boxing team, Black Bombers, for the continental competition.

Ornella is excited to represent Ghana and also an opportunity to break barriers and encourage future participation by Ghanaian female boxers.

“I’m beyond honoured to have made the cut and received the privilege to be part of the team that will be sent to represent Ghana.

I’ll do everything in my power to represent my country. Thanks to the coaches for believing in me,” she said in an intervew in Cape Coast as the Black Bombers prepared for the August 19-September 11 competition in the Moroccan capital.

Ornella, the 2017 DC Golden Gloves champion was selected based on her exploits in the United States and as a potential medal hopeful.

Although not well known in Ghanaian boxing circles, she is not your everyday boxer from Bukom where some females, notably Yarkor Chavez and Amerley Tyson found trhe sport as an escape from poverty and social vices.

Ornella is your quntessential academic with a PhD who finds boxing as a pastime, as a member of the NVJ Athletics Training Centre in Newark, where she and other teammates receive training in boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts. The instructions combine the discipline of the martial arts and the explosive methods of plyometrics training, which develops focus, coordination, power, speed and agility which she hopes to fall on at the African Games.

In the USA, Ornella fights as a kickboxer under the instructions of her trainer, Greg Pritchett, but her hands will be at work in in the welterweight class in Rabat during the continental competition.

She, who is 1.77 metres tall, took to social media to express her delight at the opportunity to represent Ghana at the 2019 Africa Games.

“I’ll be representing Ghana at the All Africa Games this year in boxing!!! I’m beyond honored to have made the cut and received the privilege to be part of the team that will be sent to represent Ghana. I’ll do everything in my power to represent my country! Thanks to the coaches for believing in me,” shye posted on her Instagram page and Facebook.

Ornella, of Ghanaian and Congolese parentage but resides in Newark, Delaware.

In camp she has mingled freely with her teammates while working under the supervision of Black Bombers trainer, Ofori Asare, and also received tips from former world champion, Joseph Agbeko, in camp before the team left for Morocco last Friday.

Outside sports, she is known as Dr Sathoud who graduated with a PhD in Analytical Chemistry at the University of Delaware (UD) last year and is currently pursuing a post-doctorate programme at the same university.

A passionate artist, she has taught a variety of chemistry courses at UD and earned the prestigious Elizabeth Dyer Excellence in Teaching Award.