Kenya's Okoth-Led Hit Squad Takes Step Closer To Tokyo 2020 Olympics Qualification

26th February 2020

Captain Nick Okoth, Christine Ongare and Elly Ajowi punched their way to the semifinals on a tough day out to keep their qualification hopes alive

Kenya skipper Nick Okoth at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal. PHOTO | Olympic Channel
Kenya skipper Nick Okoth at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal. PHOTO | Olympic Channel
SUMMARY
  • Kenya had a fine day at the Africa Boxing Olympic Games Qualification after the remainder of the ‘Hit Squad’ took a step closer to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games
  • Okoth, well referred as ‘commander’, is one bout away from an Olympics return for the first time since 2008 after boxing out Pedro Gomes of Angola in the featherweight division, winning by a unanimous points decision in the quarters.
  • Earlier, 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 division.

NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya had a fine day at the Africa Boxing Olympic Games Qualification after the remainder of the ‘Hit Squad’ took a step closer to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Captain Nick Okoth, Christine Ongare and Elly Ajowi punched their way to the semifinals on a tough day out to keep their qualification hopes alive.

Okoth, well referred as ‘commander’, is one bout away from an Olympics return for the first time since 2008 after boxing out Pedro Gomes of Angola in the featherweight division, winning by a unanimous points decision in the quarters.

Earlier, 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 division.

She is hoping to be three of the four semi-finalists who will qualify for Tokyo Olympic Games.

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,” Ongare stated.

Another Kenyan, Rayton Okwiri’s hopes of returning to the Olympic Games were shattered on Sunday evening after bowing out to Ugandan David Ssemujji on a split decision in the middleweight division at the qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal.

Okwiri, a Kenyan Olympian in Rio 2016 had briefly given up his professional career to have another shot at medaling at the Olympics, but all those dreams were broken by the Ugandan Africa Games silver medalist.