Four Ugandans qualify for World Boxing Championship
Aug 27, 2015
Four Ugandan boxers qualified for the World Boxing Championship after putting up a splendid performance in the Africa Boxing Championship that concluded in Casablanca, Morocco Sunday.
By Samson Opus
Four Ugandan boxers qualified for the World Boxing Championship after putting up a splendid performance in the Africa Boxing Championship that concluded in Casablanca, Morocco Sunday.
Despite bad officiation, Uganda won five bronze medals in Morroco finishing third behind hosts Morocco and Algeria in the 19 countries that took part in the event.
Commonwealth bronze medalists Fazil Juma Kaggwa (light flyweight) and Mike Sekabembe (super heavyweight) were among the lucky four who made the cut as the best bronze medalists to the world Championship due in Doha, Qatar in October.
Others who qualified for the world stage are bantamweight Rogers Semitala and lightweight Hassan Abdu.
Heavyweight Willy Kyakonye was Uganda’s other bronze medalist who missed out the chance.
Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) president Kenneth Gimugu hailed the feat as a good achievement for Uganda.
“I am very happy this proves that we have a lot of talent. This is a unique opportunity for our boys to test world’s best,” he said yesterday.
The World Championships is a major qualifier for Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The Bombers squad of eight boxers that was sponsored by Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) returned home on Sunday.
Others in the team were lightwelter Ali Mohammed Sserunkuma, welterweight Nasser Bukenya and light heavyweight Kennedy Katende.
The Morocco meet also served as a build up for the All Africa Games due in Congo Brazzaville in September.
Other engagements awaiting boxers include the World Junior Championship in Samoa September and the World Youth Championships due in Qatar in October.
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