NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 25 – Kenya had a fine day at the Africa Boxing Olympic Games Qualification after ‘Hit Squad’ captain Nick Okoth, Christine Ongare and Elly Ajowi punched their way to the semifinals, inching closer to booking tickets for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games.
Okoth well referred as ‘commander’ is one bout away to returning to the Olympics for the first time since 2008 after boxing out Pedro Gomes of Angola in the featherweight, winning by a unanimous points decision in the quarterfinals.
In the early bout, Ongare, who like Okoth is having
a roll in the qualifiers, hit Modestine Munga Zalia of the Democratic Republic
of Congo to win by a unanimous points decision in the flyweight.
She is hoping to be three of the four semi-finalists who will qualify for Tokyo Olympic Games.
“I dreamed of this, I know with amateur you don’t train for the person you are going to meet, you train for all and any kind of opponents. My focus is not here, I am just passing through I want to make history. I just started boxing as a joke but it’s just last year that I learnt than an uncle boxed so it could be in our blood.”
In the men’s heavyweight Kenya’s Elly Ajowi knocked Congolese Maroy Sadiki in the quarterfinals.
“The Congolese was tough because he is the type who keeps changing his legs. He really confused me with that and then he is also strong, so he really tested my movements. Next up is the Algerian who I have watched fighting many times, but I’m here ready and waiting.”
