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L. MathekaAjowi targeting podium finish at the Olympics
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 15.04.21. | 08:28
In March, Ajowi qualified for Tokyo Olympics Games by virtue of a decent heavyweight ranking at continental level.
In his first ever appearance at the Summer Games in Tokyo later in July, Kenya Police's 'Chafua chafua' finest Elly Ajowi is aiming to punch his way to the podium in the heavyweight category.
Ajowi qualified for Tokyo Olympics Games in March by virtue of a decent heavyweight ranking at continental level after the remaining qualifiers in the region were cancelled and rankings used to hand boxers tickets to the Games.
Kenyan boxers Elizabeth Akinyi (Welter) & Elly Ajowi Ochola ( heavy) have made the cut for the @Tokyo2020 Olympics Games.
— Katami Michelle (@MichKatami) March 19, 2021
They earned the quota place based on Boxing Task Force rankings.
They both won bronze at the Africa qualifiers last year.
(????/ @OlympicsKe ) #TeamKenya pic.twitter.com/oZjBgvUC0k
"I am doing everything possible to maintain the form I am in and get better despite the suspension of sporting activities because I understand the Olympics are no walk in the park. I will need proper preparations ahead of the Games as I have set a target of getting to the podium at the Olympics and that is no mean feat," Ajowi said in an interview urging the government to allow sporting activities to resume so that athletes who have qualified for the Olympics can have ample time to get ready.
Elly Ajowi, @Cota_Kenya Co-Founder & director has been awarded 55' Nano Tv by the Sports Journalist Association of Kenya for winning Sports personality of the month of March 2021. He won Gold at Africa Zone 3 boxing championship 2021 in super heavyweight category.
— COTA Kenya (@Cota_Kenya) April 14, 2021
Congratulations pic.twitter.com/1Ow8qrJcOi
The former Dandora and Muthurwa Dallas boxer says it will take both skill and power training as well as taking part in competitive fights to prepare for a stage as big as the Olympics.
"National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) introduced us to strength and conditioning under coach Geoffrey Kimani and there has been a huge improvement in how I played previously and my last fight at the Africa Zone Three championship. Despite taking part in a category that is not my usual, Super-heavy, I still had enough power to punch my way to gold thanks to strength and conditioning training," the father of two expressed.
Very emotional and tearful moment for Elly Ajowi, been to multiple commonwealth and African games but NEVER to the Olympics....in his words ' icing on the cake' as he's planning to transition into coaching post Tokyo... https://t.co/SjKFBeEOmj
— Geoffrey Kimani (@GeoffKimani) March 19, 2021
The Police Corporal was outstanding during the Africa Zone Three Boxing Championship held in Kinshasa, DR Congo in March. During the event, which attracted seven countries, Ajowi defeated African Champion Maxime Yegnong Njieyo from Cameroon for gold.
"I have made it a habit to spar with heavier boxers in my training so when the coach wanted me to switch to Super-heavyweight I did not have a problem with that. Njieyo is about 100kgs while I went in at 95kgs but I could still land some powerful punches on him and that I can attribute to strength and conditioning. For now I concentrate on heavyweight for the Olympics. After the Olympics I will sit down with my coach and decide whether to upgrade to Super-heavyweight or not," he added.
