Featherweight amateur boxer Samuel Takyi of Ghana is worried the rescheduling of Tokyo Olympic Games to 2021 could affect his weight.
The 19-year-old is one of two Ghanaian boxers who have already qualified for the games.
The Olympic Games, initially slated to start on July 24, 2020, had to be rescheduled to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic which has brought all major sporting events to their knees.
Takyi will be 20 next summer and is worried the change in hormones could affect him and many others in his age category.
“Postponing the games is the right thing to do because our lives are more important, but we can’t deny the fact that most of us will be affected by this decision,” Takyi told Joy Joy Sports.
“As a young boxer, I am still growing and this could affect my weight because of change in hormones, but I have a training session to ensure that I keep my weight so that I will still be in the same weight division.
“It is only when I am not training that my weight will be affected. I am disciplined on my weight and I am doing what I must do to keep myself in shape. I am very careful about that.”
Boxers qualify for championships and end up not competing because of “weight issues” according to head coach of the Black Bombers, Ofori Asare.
Takyi says he’s aware of this, but many boxers would be in a similar situation and it’s dependant on the International Olympic Committee on how they will compete.
“I will not be the only boxer in this situation,” Takyi noted.
“Boxers all over the world, by the time we go for the games, our ages will increase so it depends on the IOC to calibrate our weight for us, but I will keep working hard to keep my weight,” he said.
Despite the lack of competitive fights to keep him in a good shape, Takyi is adamant his quality will not fade.
“I believe in myself, I know what I can do. I am doing my personal training at home and I have specific sessions to do at home given to me by my coach. That training alone is good and I will be in good shape.”
Samuel Takyi and Suleman Tetteh are the only two Ghanaian boxers who have qualified for the Olympic games.
–myjoyonline
