The 2021 Africa Zone 3 heavyweight champion, Elly Ajowi, has said he is keen to seal his place in the national team ahead of the Africa Boxing Championship in Mozambique next month.
Ajowi, who expressed dismay after failing to make the Kenyan contingent for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, pledged to bounce back strongly in Maputo.
The National Police Service officer is among the 72-member provisional squad summoned for national trials to be conducted at the Nairobi Charter Hall from August 25-27.
The final squad will fly the country's flag at the premier annual boxing extravaganza, primed for September 9-18.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Ajowi fired a warning shot to his opponents ahead of the national trials set to begin on Thursday.
“This is a chance to enrich my cabinet with another medal and I can't just allow it to slip through my fingers. I'm ready to fight for my slot in the national team,” Ajowi said.
“I'm aware of the tough competition at the national trials but then my opponents should prepare for a big fight. I'll be stepping into the ring with Maputo in sight.”
Despite holding down the fort for the country at the 2020 Tokyo Games, Ajowi was conspicuously absent from the Kenyan quartet that made the trip to Birmingham.
He, however, reckons his compatriots justified their sojourn in the UK despite what many Kenyans generally believe was a pathetic show.
“They did their best given the circumstances and I don't think it is fair to judge our future potential based on past outcomes,” Ajowi said.
In an earlier interview, BFK national secretary-general David Munuhe said the final squad for the Maputo games will be selected after a comprehensive three-day tournament. Munuhe reckoned they had picked the cream of the country.
“We chose the best boxers in their respective weight categories. Our decision was based on individual performance at previous tournaments,” Munuhe said.
In a letter addressed to BFK affiliates, Munuhe also said female boxers who have passed the intermediate stage will be allowed to prove their mettle in the trials.
During the Brazzaville 2017 Africa Championships in the Republic of Congo, Kenya placed eighth in the medal tally after bagging one gold and four bronze medals.
Whereas Nick Okoth won the country's sole gold medal, light-fly Shaffi Bakari, middleweight John Kyalo, light-flyweight Christine Ongare and middle Elizabeth Akinyi all won bronze for Kenya.
In Maputo, Hit Squad will look to shake off their torrid run at the Commonwealth Games where the quartet that was tasked with flying the country's flag, crashed out in the preliminary bouts.
