By James Bakama
UGANDA Olympic Committee is doing all within its means to ensure that Uganda has boxers at the London Olympics.
Committee head Roger Ddungu said replacements will soon be named for light fly weight Ronald Serugo and Atanus Mugerwa (bantam) who mysteriously abandoned an Olympic build-up program recently.
The two fighters had been earmarked for the games in a schedule aimed at preparing them for the final qualifier in Morocco in April.
“We have decided to get other options,” explained Ddungu who was last year mandated by world body AIBA to take charge of local amateur boxing that has for three years been embroiled in a leadership feud.
“When you lose a loved one, you don’t sleep at the grave. You have to move on. Consultations will be made with technical personnel and a new team named.”
Serugo and Mugerwa’s disappearance robbed Uganda of a chance to tune-up at an AIBA camp in Wales. The world body had offered to train the two fighters in preparation for Morocco and thereafter London.
Ugandan boxers have featured at all editions of the prestigious quadrennial event since the 1960 Games in Rome. Uganda’s representation has however been reducing since the 1992 games when qualifiers were introduced.
It took a last gasp effort by Serugo for Uganda to secure its sole fighter at the last games in Beijing.
The World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan last year, were the first qualifier for London. The respective continents’ quotas will be filled at the forthcoming qualifiers.
Africa-52, Asia-56, Europe – 78 boxers, America – 54 and Oceania – 10 boxers are the respective quotas.
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