Hit Squad head coach Benjamin Musa has expressed confidence in the ability of Kenyan boxers to secure Olympic berths in Dakar, Senegal.
The Dakar Arena will host the Boxing Africa Qualifier for Paris 2024 from September 9 to 15, with 18 Olympic quota berths on the line.
This is the second qualification for Paris, following the European Games in June, where 44 boxers earned quota spots for their National Olympic Committees (NOCs).
"We thank God for enabling us to reach here safe and sound. We are ready for the qualifiers that will begin on Saturday. The registration process of entry check has already begun and all our boxers registered for the tournament," Musa said.
The gaffer asked his charges to be in their best element in the competition, warning them of the intense rivalry ahead.
"We have prepared well for this tournament and all we are waiting for is the draw to know our opponents. If our female boxers manage to overcome Moroccan and Algerian boxers who are very skillful, then we can have many of them in the finals," Musa said.
Musa said the stakes were raised after the IOC decided to limit the number of pugilists gracing the quadrennial global showpiece.
"We expect a tough challenge in the men's classes because there are some very gifted boxers in all the seven weight categories."
"We expect tough competition especially after the number of slots was reduced. It is only the gold medalists who will qualify in this event in the male categories.
In the women's categories, only the gold and silver medallists will secure slots for the Games in the first five categories while only the gold medallist will proceed in the middleweight category" Musa added.
The number of weight classes for men was decreased by one to seven, while the number of divisions for women was increased by one to six.
Only one men's quota spot is available in each of the seven classes for the Africa qualifier, however, there are two spots available in each of the women's weight classes in Dakar, except the 75 kg division.
Boxers who don't qualify for quota seats in Dakar will have another chance at the two world qualification competitions in Busto Arzizio, Italy from February 29 to March 12, and Bangkok, Thailand from May 23 to June 3.
"ACs have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at Paris 2024 depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation," the IOC said.