IN NOVEMBER 2022 the foundation stone of Gaza’s first-ever boxing centre for girls was laid in a ceremony that was attended by, among others, proprietor and head coach Osama Ayoub and International Boxing Association president Umar Kremlev.

At the ceremony, Kremlev announced: “This centre will become an international boxing academy, where competitions and training for athletes as well as education of coaches and referees and judges will take place. I want kids of Palestine to train free of charge and develop themselves as boxers. We will invest in the construction of this academy, and the whole boxing family will be happy to proudly make it happen.”

Named the Palestine Boxing Centre, the new purpose-built facility opened its doors in January 2023. For Ayoub it was a dream come true, marking the culmination of a journey which began five years prior when he began training just two girls in a tiny garage. When more girls came he began training them on the beach or in private rented spaces, before finally moving into the new building permanently.