Andiego to lead six Hit Squad boxers in Paris Olympic Qualifying Tournament

Boxing Federation of Kenya has named six boxers set to take part in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics 1st World Qualification Tournament slated for 29 February to 12 March 2024 in Busto Arzizio, Italy.

The team, announced on Tuesday, will be led by team captains Elizabeth Andiego and Boniface Mugunde who will battle for slots in the Middleweight and Light Middle-weight categories.

Joining Mugunde in the men’s team will be David Karanja (flyweight) and Shaffi Bakari (Featherweight).

Andiego on the other hand, will be accompanied by flyweight Christine Ongare and Frizah Anyango (welterweight).

The first qualification tournament - repechage - is expected to qualify 50 athletes through to the July games.

It also comes to the aid of Kenya’s boxers who missed out on direct spots last year in the Olympic Qualifiers - Africa held in Dakar, Senegal.

“Experience and recent form was a big determinant to who made the cut,” BFK Communications Director Duncan Kuria said of the team expected to fly out on Wednesday 28 February.

Andiego's hopes for Olympics ticket suffers huge dent after losing to EL Mardi

2022 Africa Boxing Championships silver medalist Andiego went close to sealing an Olympic spot last year but suffered a 5-0 points loss to World Heavyweight Champion Khadija El Mardi.

The same fate fell on Kenya’s other representatives then - Karanja and Anyango - who were eliminated in the third round of the qualifiers.

The team, after two weeks of intense training under the watch of head coach Benjamin Musa, now travel with hopes of sealing qualification for yet another Olympic Games.

Hit Squad place 17th overall in concluded Africa Boxing Championships

TEAM

MEN: David Karanja (flyweight), Shaffi Bakari (Featherweight), Boniface Mugunde (Light middleweight).

WOMEN: Elizabeth Andiego (middleweight), Frizah Anyango (Welterweight), Christine Ongare (flyweight).