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The Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK) has finalized a squad of 24 talented boxers, both male and female, who have commenced rigorous training in Nairobi.

These athletes are vying for coveted spots at both the Africa Boxing Championships in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and the African Olympic Qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal.

 Following a three-day national trial held last weekend, the BFK selected 12 winners who will be joined by another 12 boxers to serve as sparring partners, all of whom remain eligible for final selection.

“We have changed tradition a little bit because what we saw from the Saturday finals was that many boxers struggled to adjust to new weight categories and that’s the reason why we witnessed many upsets that were unexpected,” BFK Communications Director Duncan Kuria said on Tuesday.

Veteran boxers who suffered defeats during the national trials, but still made the provisional squad to join camp include Pauline Chege, Teresia Wanjiru, Shaffi Bakari and Edwin Okong’o.

On the contrary, notable familiar faces led by Olympians Christine Ong’are and Elizabeth Andiego, national team captain Boniface Mugunde, 2023 men’s World Boxing Championships participant David Karanja and African Championships silver medallist Samuel Njau made the cut after winning their finals on Saturday.

The African Boxing Championships will not have the same weight categories as the Olympic Qualifiers meaning that BFK has to adapt with seven slots being given to men with one each per weight category and the women getting two slots per category.

Additionally, the team led by veteran coach Benjamin Musa scheduled strength and conditioning at VMX Gym yesterday and another one is to be held on Friday.

Sparring took place on Tuesday while others will be held today, tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday at the Mathare Police Depot, Nairobi.

The Africa Boxing Championships are scheduled for Yaounde in Cameroon from July 25 to August 6, whereas the African Olympic Qualifiers will be in Dakar, Senegal from September 9 to 15.