The first boxing qualification event, held in Sakar, Senegal, closed on February 29 with 33 athletes winning a slot at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
A total of 198 athletes from 38 countries participated in the African Continental Qualifier, held at the Dakar Arena in Diamniado from February 20-29, competing in 13 weight categories (eight men, five women events) for a total of 192 bouts.
A total of 16 nations won medals in Dakar, with Morocco finishing atop the medal standings with eight medals, four gold and four bronze. Algeria followed with eight medals (three gold, four silver and one bronze), while Cameroon finished in third place, with two golds and one bronze (see the full medal standings here).
Fourteen nations gained at least one qualification spot for Tokyo 2020, with Algeria topping the quota places chart with seven Olympic berths. Find here the full list of quota places allocated in Dakar.
Ensuring global coverage of the event, the African Qualifier was live-streamed to audiences worldwide via the Olympic Channel. On the day of the finals, athletes and teams shared their enthusiasm regarding the event’s organisation.
Khadija Mardi (MAR), Boxing Athlete Ambassador for Africa, who also competed in Dakar, commented: “The general organisation was perfect. Generally all felt really fair, and I hope that the other competitions will be organised with the same standard. Everything was fantastic, the staff was friendly, and the country of Senegal was really welcoming.”
The competition was run according to a revised set of rules, amended by the IOC Boxing Task Force with the support of Athletes Ambassadors and boxing experts. Furthermore, a new selection process for referees and judges was implemented in the lead-up to the Boxing Road to Tokyo Series. All officials were reviewed to ensure they met the selection criteria, and were randomly selected through a transparent and independently audited procedure. Referees and judges also took part in a specific educational programme, and their performances were continuously monitored throughout the competition to help them improve the quality of their decisions.
Boxing qualifying event in Amman
The Boxing Road to Tokyo moves ahead now, with the Asian/Oceanian qualifying event that is starting today in Amman, Jordan. The competition, held at the Prince Hamza Hall, will run until 11 March, and will see 221 athletes from 35 countries competing for 63 Olympic quota places.
Fans can watch the action live on the Olympic Channel, including all the women’s and men’s bouts across all weight categories, with commentary in English, Russian and Hindi beginning on 3 March at 11 a.m. EET (local time). Coverage will be available in all territories worldwide for free at olympicchannel.com and via its apps for mobile and connected TV devices.
News, photos and results will be posted online on the dedicated Amman Qualifier page of the Athlete365 Boxing Corner platform. We encourage fans to join the conversation online using the hashtag #Boxing.
