Paris 2024: Seven Ghanaian boxers fly to Italy for Olympic Qualifier

Ghana’s national boxing team, the Black Bombers will fly to Italy tonight for a Paris 2024 Olympic Qualifier.

President of the Ghana Amateur Boxing Federation, Bernard Quartey and a representative from the Sports Ministry will lead a delegation of six boxers for the tournament.

Samuel Takyi, who won bronze in the featherweight division at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, is expected to lead the Black Bombers. Takyi will be fighting in the light welterweight division.

The other members of the Black Bombers are Theophilius Kpakpo Allotey (flyweight division), Alfred Kotei (light middleweight), Jonathan Tetteh (light heavyweight) and Leicester born Mark Kojovi Ahondao (heavyweight).

Black Hitters pair of, Janet Ackah and Warrant Officer Anatu Mohammed will be competing in the flyweight and lightweight divisions respectively.

The boxers will be led by Coach Ofori Asare and his assistant Vincent Ackah Nettey assistant are also on the trip.

Meanwhile, a bantamweight boxer Dauda Fuseini, will not be making the trip after the Italian Embassy rejected his VISA application.

Mohammed was due to compete in the featherweight division but will not travel with the team after failing to provide his birth certificate.

The designated doctor of the team, A.S.P Edward Asante, has also been denied the VISA.

Ghana is still waiting for its first boxing slot for the Paris Olympic after 12 boxers failed to secure any at the qualifying tournament in Senegal last year.

The tournament in Italy, the first of boxing’s Olympic Qualifiers in 2024, will run from March 3 to March 11, 2024, in Bursto Arsizio, northern Italy.

The Black Bombers will be competing for six of the 49 slots on offer during the event, including 28 for men and 21 for women.

The next qualifying tournament for boxing will take place in Thailand from 26 May to 2 June.