Paris 2024 Qualifiers: Munuhe backs Team Kenya to shrug off false start

National boxing team assistant coach David Munuhe is upbeat Kenya will secure qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics despite a false start that saw them lose their first fight.

His sentiments come after 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Christine Ongare lost her preliminary round bout against Chinese Taipei’s Guo Yi-Xuan in Italy on Sunday.

"Christine was overwhelmed in the first round after her opponent started the bout very fast. But I can also say that she did not listen to our advice for the second round, and in the end, she lost.

Six Kenyan boxers are taking part in the first 2024 Paris Olympics World Qualification Tournament, which started from February 29 to March 12 in Busto Arsizio, Italy.

The Kenyan team is led by team captains Elizabeth Andiego and Boniface Mugunde will battle for slots in the middleweight and light middleweight categories.

Joining Mogunde in the men’s team is David Karanja (flyweight) and Shaffi Bakari (featherweight).

Andiego on the other hand, has been accompanied by Frizah Anyango (welterweight) and flyweight Christine Ongare.

The qualification tournament, repechage, are being managed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and is expected to qualify 50 athletes through to the July games, coming after Kenyan boxers missed out on direct spots last year in the Olympic Qualifiers - Africa held in Dakar, Senegal.

The boxers’ third and last chance to qualify for Paris will be in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 26–June 2.

 In addition to Kenya, among other African countries taking part, are Algeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Morocco, Mozambique, Mauritius, and Eswatini.

Men: David Karanja (flyweight), Shaffi Bakari (featherweight), Boniface Mugunde (light middleweight).

Women: Elizabeth Andiego (middleweight), Frizah Anyango (welterweight), Christine Ongare (flyweight).