The Zambia Boxing team is in high spirits ahead of the Dakar Olympic qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which will take place from the 9th to the 15th of September in Dakar, Senegal.
Speaking from OYDC Zambia - Sports Development Centre, where the team is currently camped, head Coach Wisdom Mudenda says the preparations are going well, and he is optimistic that they will perform greatly following the hard work they have put in so far.
“We started a joint international training camp yesterday with the team from Botswana. We have had several joint training sessions and are yet to have more as part of the preparations for the Olympic qualifiers,” he said.
The team, which has been in a residential camp for the last three days, consists of four males and four females. In the flyweight category is African Champion Margret Tembo, Mary Mwango is placed in the featherweight category, Hildah Ng'andwe is in bantamweight, and Felistus Nkandu is in the lightweight category. Patrick Chinyemba, the current African champion, is in the flyweight category, Mwango Mwale, a new entrant, is placed in the bantamweight category, while the current lightweight African champion Andrew Chilata and Stephen Zimba are in the Welterweight Category.
Margret, the current light flyweight African champion, is confident in the preparations and guidance provided by the Coaching Team.
“I have been preparing for these Olympic qualifiers and look forward to qualifying for the games in Paris next year and winning a gold medal in Dakar,” she said.
“I have been to major games such as the Commonwealth Games, African Championships, and I am among the first female boxing athletes to go to the Commonwealth Games,” she adds.
Meanwhile, the coach has expressed confidence in the team's aspirations to qualify all the boxers despite describing the competition as tough.
“Previously, we used to qualify six boxers in each weight category at the continental level, but this time only one from the males’ category and two from the females’ category can qualify, making it tougher. Our target is for all the boxers to reach the finals.
The team will leave for Senegal on Tuesday, 5th September, at 15:00, aboard Ethiopian Airlines, arriving in Dakar on Wednesday, 6th September, at 17:00, three days before the start of the competition.
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