Paris 2024: Changalawe sure of bronze
A CRAFTY performance by pugilist Yusuf Changalawe assured Tanzania of bronze after the boxer punched his way to the semifinals of the Olympic Boxing Africa qualifiers for Paris 2024 in the bout held at Dakar Arena in Senegal on Wednesday evening.
A 4-1 decision from five judges qualified Changalawe for the semis after defeating Seydina Konate of Senegal. A three-round tight contest between two bronze medalists in this year’s African Boxing Championships enthralled the crowd in the Arena.
Each light heavyweight boxer, with their guards up, tried to establish a timing hook while avoiding an early blow in the first round. Senegalese boxer took an early lead but things turned sour when Changalawe increased pace and blow power in the second and third rounds, which enabled him to gain an advantage by taking the points from his opponent.
Other Tanzanian boxers who fought earlier in the evening included Abdallah Mohamed Abdallah and Grace Mwakamele. The two boxers lost their quarterfinal fights. Abdallah lost to Said Mortaji of Morocco by points 4-1 while Mwakamele lost against Algerian boxer Imane Khelif.
The going is likely to be very tough as 18 Olympic quota berths are on the line. There is one men’s quota available in each of the seven weight classes and two quotas up for grabs in each of the women’s weight classes, except only a single spot is available in the 75kg division.
Tanzania travelled with a team of six boxers. On the men’s side include Changalawe, Salum Mwalami, Abdallah and Musa Maregesi.
The ladies are Zulfa Yusufu and Mwakamele.
Out of six boxers from Tanzania, only one boxer is still on track to win gold. Hence, Changalawe ought to win gold to seal a spot for Tanzania in next year’s games.
A second chance will follow for all boxers who did not win a ticket to Paris.
According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), boxers who do not qualify for quota seats in Dakar will have another chance at the two-world qualification competitions in Busto Arzizio, Italy from February 29th to March 12th and Bangkok, Thailand from May 23rd to June 3rd.
