Africa-Press – Uganda. Uganda’s national boxing captain Musa Shadir Bwogi was the first Ugandan boxer to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. But he will be the last to make his debut after getting a bye to the Round of 16 in the welterweight division in the draws last afternoon.Bwogi will enter the ring inside the Kokugikan Arena Tuesday morning against the winner between Lorenzo Sotomayor of Azerbaijan and Eskerkhan Madiev Georgia.Different talesBy then his compatriots David Ssemuju and Catherine Nanziri will either be waiting for the next round or packing their bags.Nanziri shall be the first Ugandan to test action against Japan’s Tsukimi Namik in the first preliminary round of the women’s flyweight division, on Sunday, while middleweight Ssemuju will seek to settle a score against Algeria’s Younes Nemouchi on Monday.This is, however, going to be Shadir’s first competitive fight since defeating Ghana’s welterweight Jesse Larte in the third-place box-off at the African Olympic Qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal in February 2020. Winning any medal for Uganda is the ultimate goal for each of the three Bombers, but it is a tall order to break the 40-year jinx.Money prizeThis is a feat that guarantees any Ugandan boxer Shs1m from Uganda Boxing Federation president Moses Muhangi and $1,500 (Shs5.3m) from former Makindye East Member of Parliament Ibrahim Kasozi.Weeks after qualifying for the Olympics, Shadir, who is also known for his sense of style and fashion, wore a tattoo of the Olympics logo on his body. Such is his passion for the Games and boxing being Olympic boxing being a cruel knockout affair, the 25-year-old would not want to see his campaign end on the debut.
EARLIER THIS MORNING3.30am (Ugandan time):Women’s Single ScullKathleen in Lane 1 of Heat 2 againstrowers from Greece, Trinidad andTobago, Singapore, Ireland and Mexico.FULL DAY ONE SCHEDULEARCHERY3am: Women’s Individual RankingRound7am: Men’s Individual Ranking RoundEQUESTRIAN3:30am: Dressage 1st HorseInspectionROWING3:30am: Women’s Single Sculls HeatsSHOOTING2:30am: 10m Air Rifle Women’s PreEvent Training4:00am: 10m Air Pistol Men’s PreEvent TrainingOPENING CEREMONY2pm: At National Stadium
