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By Peter Akinbo
The final set of Paris 2026 Olympic Games boxing qualifiers, which held at the Indoor Stadium Huamark in Bangkok, Thailand from May 24, 2024 to Monday June 3, saw Team Nigeria fail to pick up one of the 51 Paris 2024 slots (23 for women and 28 for men) available for 579 boxers from 133 countries in 13 weight categories.
Nigeria registered four boxers for the World Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament, despite initial plans for five as UK-based boxer and WBC silver title-holder Elizabeth Oshoba was unable to participate due to delays in her visa application process.
Patricia Mbata, Zainab Adeshina, Blessing Oraekwe and Ifeanyi Onyekwere were led by national team coach Tony Konyegwachie and his assistant Olusegun Ajose to the tournament.
Mbata and Adeshina made it furthest among the quartet as the duo got to the quarter-finals.
Mbata’s Olympics dream then came to an end after her points decision defeat to Mexican Ortiz Citlalli Vanessa in the women’s 75kg, while Adeshina suffered a split decision (1-4) points defeat to Kaivo-Oja Pihla of Finland in the women’s 50kg.
Oraekwe crashed out in the women’s 66Kg in the round of 32, suffering a unanimous points (0-5) loss to Armenian Ani Hovsepyan.
The only male boxer in the Nigerian camp, Onyekwere’s chase for the Olympics slot ended after he also suffered a point decision defeat against Dmytro Lovchynskyi of Ukraine in the men’s +92kg (super-heavyweight) round of 32.
While some of the team members returned to Nigeria, Mbata posted videos on her Instagram account as she continues to spend her time in Thailand with fellow Nigerian boxer, Olaore Adams, who is Paris-bound but travelled to support the team.