Rwanda Amateur Boxing Association (Raba) has named a four man pugilist team who will take part in the second African Olympic boxing qualifiers due in Windhoek, Namibia from March 22 to April 2. The quadruple include David Nsabimana (54kg), Michel Gashumba (57kg), Pascal Sibomana (60kg) and Jean Morris Bikorimana (64kg). The Raba Technical director who also doubles as the national boxing team head coach Gashugi Kananura told Times Sport on yesterday that the quadruple have been thoroughly prepared and are hoped for clinching Olympic slots in their respective disciplines. “These boxers were selected owing to their experience and how they excelled during the one month non residential training at Amahoro stadium,” “They fought hard to be on the national team because through the intensive training,” Gashugi said. Gashugi assured that Rwanda must obtain a qualifying slot to this year’s Olympic Games due in Beijing, China. However, Gashugi’s work is not yet done as he has to first deal with weight problems of two of his influential boxers. Gashumba who will take part in the 57 kg weight bout is over 4kg while Nsabimana who will take part in the 54 kg is over 3.5kg and they must shed off these weights before they depart for Windhoek next week. The national boxing team’s trip to Namibia will be fully sponsored by the Ministry of Sport and Culture. Lack of funds which denied the national pugilists a chance of taking part in the first Olympic qualifier held in Algiers in January has also forced the local body to send minimum representation to the Namibia edition. Meanwhile, the international boxing governing body, AIBA has prepared qualifiers for each of its members- America, Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania, in which each continent will host two qualifiers. With African continent entitled to take 60 boxers to this year’s Olympic Games, Rwanda who didn’t send her boxers to the first qualifying round must leave no stone unturned so as to secure a slot in the remaining 30 slots available in the Windhoek phase. No Rwandan boxer has ever qualified for the Olympic Games which are slated for August 8- 24 in Beijing, China. Rwandan boxers have faced tough times amid preparations for such international events. Pugilists failed to compete in last year’s Algeria All African Games on grounds of incompetent performance in Madagascar African Championship held a month before the Algiers Games.Ends
