Six boxers fly to Dakar for Olympic trials

By Abdul-Nasser Ssemugabi

Six boxers, including one woman, have flown out aboard Ethiopian Airlines to Dakar, Senegal for the Africa Olympic Qualifiers which start Saturday, September 9.

When the International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned the International Boxing Association (IBA) in June, it gave the Boxing Unit the mandate to prepare boxers for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

However, protracted negotiations among the Uganda Olympic Committee, Uganda Boxing Federation, and the National Council of Sports regarding team selection and funding, delayed the preparations for a very competitive tournament.

Eventually, the boxers including Shafik Mawanda, Jonah Kyobe, Joshua Tukamuhebwa, Isaac Zebra Ssenyange, Musa Shadir Bwogi, and Grace Nankinga camped at Kavumba Recreation Grounds in Wakiso for only four days but Moses Mwase, head of mission for Paris 2024, said the team has the experience to put on a good performance.

Only 7 gold medalists and 11 of the 12 women finalists will qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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