Ghana’s search for a slot in boxing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will continue today when Mark Kodjovi Ahondjo and Theophilius Kpakpo Allotey take their turn in the qualifying tournament in Bangkok.
Leicester-based Kodjovi Ahondjo will be the first to fight when he takes on St. Pierre Kennedy Joseph of Mauritius in the afternoon session, in the super heavyweight contest. The round of 32 bout will be Kodjovi’s first time representing Ghana.
He was originally named as part of the Black Bombers team for the qualifying tournament in Italy but could not make the trip.
Later today, Theophilius Kpakpo Allotey will face Hungary’s Bernath Attila in the evening session. The flyweight contest is a round of 64 encounter.
Allotey was the best performing Ghanain across the two previous Qualifiers in Senegal and in Busto Arsizio.
In Dakar, Allotey was the last Ghanaian standing when he was eliminated at the quarter final stage. He suffered a similar fate when South Korea’s Inkyu Kim eliminated him in Busto Arsizio, Italy.
Any victory today will be Ghana’s first at the tournament following Friday’s disappointing start.
On Friday, African Games gold medallist Adamu Mohammed lost via a second round stoppage by Dominican Republic’s De lo Santos Felix Jose Luis.
The nineteen year-old has therefore been eliminated after losing the round 64 bout.
Ghana’s remaining match ups at the tournament are as follows;
Joseph Commey vrs Bajoku Shpetim (Kosovo) afternoon session, 26th May,2024. Bout no. 102 in the Light Welterweight -63.5kg (Round 64).
Henry Malm vrs Bilrrashid Mohammed (Libya) evening session, 26th May,2024. Bout no. 139 in the Light Middleweight -71kg. (Round 64)
Jonathan Tetteh VRs Dominguez Loren Berto (Azerbaijan) evening session, 27th May,2024. Bout no. 192 in the Heavyweight- 92Kg
Ornella Sathoud VRs Langerova Monika (Czech Republic) evening session 27th May,2024. Bout no. 200 Women’s Middleweight- 75Kg (R32).
In all, there are 51 Olympic slots available at the Bangkok Qualifier.
No Ghanaian has qualified for the Olympic Games in Paris, despite Ghanaian representation at the 2023 African Qualifiers in Senegal and the 2024 tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy.
Source: myjoyonline