After Kenya bagged her first ticket to 2020 Tokyo Olympics through 2015 African Boxing Championships gold medalist Nick Okoth, a second one could be the offing.
Commonwealth Games flyweight bronze medalist Christine Ongare is tipped to conquer Uganda champion Catherine Nanziri in the flyweight play-offs on the final day of African Olympic qualifiers at Dakar Arena, Senegal this evening.
It will be a tough match for both boxers owing to the outcome of their previous matches before they bowed out in the semi-finals.
As Kenya looks upon Ongare to deliver the second ticket, the Ugandan champion has equally sounded a stern warning in a section of the Uganda media saying she is out to claim the box-off slot on her way to Japan.
On paper, Ongare starts as favourite owing to tougher opponents she faced on her way to the semi-finals compared to Nanziri who was given a bye in the opening match only to fight two matches compared to Ongare’s three.
On her way to the semis, Ongare defeated Omella Havyanmana of Burundi 5-0, floored Modestina Munga Zalia of Democratic Republic of Congo by the same margin in pre-quarterfinals and was beaten by Rebbab Cheddah of Morocco on unanimous points’ decision in the semi-finals.
“I’m ready for the fight and I’ll use all techniques instilled in me by my coaches and win every match that comes my way,” Ongare said before her match against Zalia, which she lost on unanimous points decision.
On her part, Nanziri had a bye in the first match before edging out Senegal’s Khadidja Timera of Senegal 3-2 but was knocked out by Algeria’s Roumaysa Boualam.
