Maba unveils 2020 Olympic Games strategies
In its quest to produce boxers that can challenge for medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Malawi Boxing Association (Maba) has devised strategies that will lead local pugilists gain international exposure.
Among others, the national boxing governing body has disclosed plans to host international fights every four months.
Through the arrangement, Maba professional boxing wing chairperson Daud Chikwanje believes both amateur and professional boxers will learn new skills that can help them qualify and succeed at the 2020 Games.
Said Chikwanje: “We will be organising the international fights quarterly. This is aimed at giving our boxers a chance to learn new skills. Our dream is to win medals at the Olympic and Commonwealth games.”
Dubbed Road to Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the initiative will officially be launched on February 5 this year at M1 Centre Point in Lilongwe where there will be a boxing galore.
In the main bout, Malawian Mussa Ajibu fights Zimbabwean Tineyi Maridzo in a non-title international heavyweight contest. The supporting bouts will see Limbani Lano facing Alick Gogoda while Jobsons Adams will fight Dan Lombola.
“This will be the starting point in our 2020 Games preparations. There are other things we shall do which include training judges and coaches. This will ensure that our bouts are officiated by highly qualified officials just like at international competitions,” Chikwanje said.
Malawi has never won a medal at the Olympic Games where it usually competes on solidarity because most of her athletes fail to qualify.
Most analysts have been linking the failure to poor preparations but Chikwanje hoped their new approach will pay dividends.
Recently, the Malawi Olympic Committee which coordinates Olympic Games locally, added to the accusation saying no association has submitted preparatory programmes leading to 2020 Olympic Games. n
