There is the nine universality places – five for women and four for men – to be confirmed this month by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). You never know, Africa could land more qualifiers here but it’s not guaranteed.
After a shaky start, the African boxers rallied strongly towards the end to have six boxers in the crucial quarter finals. Overall, the performance is a notable improvement compared to the 1st World Olympic Qualifiers in Italy where all the 68 African boxers failed to qualify.
However, the African teams would have done much better if their boxers are technically and mentally equipped to excel in such major events.
Ghana sent seven boxers, six male and one female all of them fell before the quarter final. The west African country is a great boxing nation but the new tough regulations of the sanctioning bodies have not gone down well with Ghana and African boxers.
Ghana produced, Samuel Takyi, the only bronze medalist in boxing at the last Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021.
The Black Bombers of Ghana produced the first African to win an Olympic silver medal at Rome 1960.
For the records, Africa has contributed to the promotion and development of European sports internationally.
President of the Ghana Olympic Committee, Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah said the African boxers need to be encouraged with the universality slots
“I pray Ghana gets a slot because our boxers did well” he said.
Story By Sammy Heywood Okine
