TANZANIA : TANZANIA boxing team captain Yusuf Changalawe proudly waved the national flag colours at Dakar Arena, Senegal winning a silver medal in the Africa Boxing Olympic qualifiers.
Changalawe won silver after losing his final bout to Abdelrahman Abdelgawad of Egypt who won gold in the lightweight category. Abdelgawad therefore sealed a qualification ticket to the Olympic Games for the third time.
235 boxers from 41 African countries contested this year’s qualifier.
18 Olympic quota berths were on the line.
There was one men’s quota available in each of the seven weight classes and two quotas up for grabs in each of the women’s weight classes except only a single spot was available in the 75kg division.
Tanzania travelled with a team of six boxers. On the men’s side, they include Changalawe, Salum Mwalami, Abdallah Mohammed Abdallah and Musa Maregesi. The ladies are Zulfa Yusufu and Grace Mwakamele.
Neither of the Tanzanian boxers sealed a spot at the Olympic Games in the boxing category.
Yet, there is a second chance for Tanzania to seal a spot at the Olympic Games. The second qualifier will follow for all boxers who did not win a ticket to Paris.
According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), boxers who do not qualify for quota seats in Dakar will have another chance at the two world qualification competitions in Busto Arzizio, Italy from February 29th to March 12th and Bangkok, Thailand from May 23rd to June 3rd.
The Boxing Federation president Lukelo Wililo told the ‘Sunday News’ that after the continental qualifying games in which Africa was given the fewest places in the history of the Olympics, there are now 100 places left to qualify through the global games that will be held in Italy in February 2024 and Bangkok, Thailand in April 2024.
“Along with those, there are nine golden spots. Hopefully, Changalawe can seal a spot.”
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