The road to the Brazil 2016 Olympic Games for boxers starts early this month with the Intermediates Boxing Championship.
Fazil Juma Kaggwa defeats Lumbwe Bwalya in Glasgow
According to national coach Dick Katende, the championship due at Lugogo next week (January 11-7) is crucial for building a formidable national team the Bombers.
The week-long event precedes the National Open that will determine the national boxing squad. But Katende said he will be able to scout talent early.
“This is a defining moment for boxing. I look forward to the Intermediates Championship as a strong foundation for the team,” Katende said on Friday.
Unlike the previous years, the world boxing body, AIBA, has earmarked only two qualifiers for Africa zone-making qualifiers harder this time.
The top cream of boxers in the continent will have a chance of earning berth to the Brazil Games in the Africa Championship early in 2016 and the World Championships in Kazakhstan later in the year.
Previously, Africa had three qualifiers to determine their quota of 17 boxers in the Olympics. Only one Ugandan boxer Ronald Serugo represented Uganda in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
On the prospects of qualification for the Olympic Games, Katende said, “It is all about hard work. But our chances are good going by the recent performance in the Commonwealth Games Glasgow, Scotland.”
Despite years of administrative wrangles that tore the sport apart, Uganda salvaged some pride after picking two bronze medals in the Commonwealth Games last year.
Flyweight Fazil Juma Kaggwa and super heavyweight Mike Sekabembe who bagged medals in Scotland are expected to be the heart of the Bombers squad this year.
Intermediates: January 10-17
National Open: February 2016
Olympics: August
Samson Opus, The New Vision