Steve Ongaro
3 August 2007
Nairobi — All Africa Games boxing gold medal winner Suleiman Bilali says he was aware of the latest development regarding the 2008 Olympic Games qualification format which was introduced by the two world regulatory bodies.
He said was not perturbed at all by this new development. "I was informed about it by a Ugandan and Namibian coaches after the boxing event had entered into the quarter final stages during the ninth All Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria a fortnight ago".
Bilali and a Zambian light welter were the only boxers from the Federation of East, Southern and Central Africa Amateur Boxing Association (Fescaaba) who managed to win gold medals from their respective weight categories.
Kenya won three medals in Algeria Bilali took away gold, while light heavy Joshua Ndere of Afaba and middle Daniel Shitsia Amwayi of Prisons both won bronze medal. Tanzania and Uganda failed to win a single medal.
He said he is confident of makiing the grade for Beijing Games. "I know I will make it and follow the footsteps of my elder brother Ibrahim "Surf" Bilali who won a flyweight bronze medal in the Los Angeles in 1984."
Both International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) changed the format of making all boxers around the world qualify for Olympic a year before the Games.
The first world selection of 88 pugilists will be done during the World Amateur Boxing Championship in Chicago, United States in October in which all gold, silver and bronze medallists will qualify. The Beijing Olympics will feature 385 boxers.
Besides World championship, Africa will still have to more championship rounds with the first being in December 2007 and the second one in March 2008.
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