At the ongoing Olympic Qualifiers in Italy, Ugandan boxer Shafic Mawanda faced a disappointing setback as he lost his bout by walkover.
Mawanda was slated to go head-to-head against Teo Wei Xuan of Singapore on Sunday, but failed to make it to the competition venue on time.
This defeat marks the end of the road for Mawanda, who sought a redemption opportunity following his defeat by Ghana’s Theophilus Allotey last year in the Men’s Flyweight division at the African qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal.
Uganda has sent a contingent of four boxers—Joshua Tukamuhebwa, Yusuf Nkobeza, and Emily Nakalema—to compete at the Olympic qualifying event in Busto Arsizio, near Milan, Italy, from March 4 to March 11, 2024.
The Ugandan boxing team, known as the Bombers, aims to secure qualification for the Summer Olympic Games in Paris. This event in Italy represents the second chance for Ugandan boxers to qualify after last year’s Qualification Tournament in Dakar, Senegal.
Yusuf Nkobeza is set to step into the ring on Monday, facing Romanian Aradoaie Paul Andrei in the 80kg division. Joshua Tukamuhebwa will follow on Tuesday, March 5, taking on Edgar Garcia of Guatemala in the 63.5kg category.
Meanwhile, Emily Nakalema, competing in the Women’s 66kg division, received a bye in the first preliminary round and is scheduled to face Moreira Ivanusa of Cape Verde on Friday, March 8.
