No margin for error for Kenyan boxers at final Olympics qualification tournament

© Boxing Federation of Kenya.

No margin for error for Kenyan boxers at final Olympics qualification tournament

Joel Omotto 10:03 - 25.05.2024

Kenyan boxers will have to finish in the top three in each of their categories at the final Olympics qualification tournament in Thailand or risk missing out on the Games for the first time.

Kenyan boxers have a final shot at Olympic qualification as they face a tough task at the elimination tournament in Bangkok, Thailand from May 24 to June 2.

The boxers face the prospect of missing out entirely at the Olympics unless they finish in the top three in each of their respective categories to seal a ticket to Paris.

Kenya has sent six boxers to the elimination tournament in the name of Eliud Okong’o (light heavyweight), Boniface Mogunde (light middleweight) newcomer Pater Abuti (heavyweight), Amina Martha (bantamweight), Frizah Anyango (welterweight) and Elizabeth Andiego (middleweight).

There are no margins for error for the boxers who must get it right this time round after two previous failed attempts.

Kenyan boxers were among 65 from Africa who failed to nick an Olympic spot at the 1st World Qualification Tournament in Italy in March.

It was a poor outing for the African pugilists who sought a second crack at Olympics qualification via the torturous repchage after missing out from the African qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal in September last year.

None of the Kenyan boxers had made the cut in Dakar and tried their luck in Italy but just like their African peers, it proved difficult.

African boxers blamed their woes on ‘poor officiating’ once again with the African Boxing Confederation president Eyassu Berhanu promising to look into the matter but they will run out of excuses if they do not perform in Thailand.

It is tough this time with more than 600 boxers from 133 countries battling for the Olympics tickets with just 51 slots available, being 23 for women and 28 for men.

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