Hit Squad boxers shine in opening day of Olympic Qualifiers

Kenya national boxing team - Hit Squad - on Saturday 9 September registered three wins on the opening day of the Paris 2024 Olympics Boxing Africa Qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal.

Kenya, after a week of training at the famous La Finca Gym in Havana, Cuba, embarked on a direct journey to the BK Arena in Dakar, where they were among the countries gunning for the continent’s 18 Olympic quotas at stake.

First in action was the men’s team captain Boniface Mugunde, who delivered a strong right hook to knock-out Mohammed Rabii of Morocco in the second round of the men’s 71kgs round of 32 bout.

The win for the Kenyan followed up his impressive performances over the year, and was termed a shock win given his opponent was the 2016 Rio Olympic Games bronze medalist and had been crowned the Africa middleweight champion just a month ago in Yaounde.

Kenya’s other win came in the manner of a walkover, when national champion Teresiah Wanjiru was handed a bye after Palviano Lam of South Sudan didn’t honor her fight in the women’s 60kg Round of 32.

David Karanja Macharia on the other hand, extended his hot hand as he defeated Thibaut Justin Ngbandamale of Central Africa Republic on Referee Stop Contest round 1 ( RSC) in his men’s 51kg (flyweight) Round of 32 preliminary bout.

The Kenyan also bagged a bronze medal in Kenya’s last continental assignment in Cameroon.

“Training in Cuba has definitely sharpened my skills,” Karanja told BFK shortly after his win. “Despite having little information on my opponent, I kinda settled in early and caught him. The weather here too is something similar to what we had in Havana and so it's a big plus.”

Kenya's envoy to Cuba visits Hit Squad camp in Havana

With the hot start, Hit Squad’s only defeat on the day was on Kenyan featherweight champion and Africa Championships silver medalist Samuel Njau as he suffered a Round One stoppage from the hands of Yadesa Leta (Ethiopia) in the men’s 57kg Round of 64.

Kenya’s participants in Day two include Christine Ongare in the women's 50kg, Amina Martha in the women's 54kg, Ethan Maina in the men's 63.5kg, and Mugunde's second round matchup in the evening against Michael Pakela of Lesotho.