Boxing: 11th Indian Ocean Islands Games |10 June 2023
Much-awaited African Championships in Yaoundé, Cameroon postponed
As part of its preparation for the 11th Indian Ocean Islands Games in Madagascar in August, the Seychelles Boxing Federation was anticipating to send a team of fighters to the African Championship which was expected to begin on June 13 to June 25.
The trip, however, has been cancelled due to the indefinite postponement of the event by the Cameroonian government.
Speaking to Sports NATION, secretary general of the Seychelles Boxing Federation (SBF) Edmond Folette explained that the Seychelles team have limited time to prepare for the Indian Ocean Islands Games (IOIG).
Following the last competition on May 20, the SBF was supposed to unveil its list for the IOIG, but Mr Folette explained that they are still in the selection process, while the African Boxing Championships would have given our local fighters an opportunity to gain international exposure and experience.
Mr Folette said they have already chosen athletes in the following categories: 48kg, 52kg, 57kg, 60kg, 63.5kg, 67kg, 71kg, 80kg, 86kg, 92 and 92+kg categories, while they are still uncertain regarding contestants for the 75kg and 54kg categories.
A three-bout competition has now been scheduled for June 23 where pugilists from the two categories will be chosen.
He said, even with the setbacks, they will be taking part in the Trophée Inter-Iles which will take place in Reunion from July 6 to 8 and the Zone 4 boxing tournament which will take place in Maputo, Mozambique as from July 11.
The two competitions, he said, will be good preparation for the IOIG.
He also mentioned that the SBF’s main difficulty at the moment is to get release for athletes from their various work organisations.
At the last IOIG in 2019 in Mauritius, Seychelles won six medals (four silver and two bronze).
The silver medallists were Shain Boniface (69kg), Andrique Allisop (64kg), Keddy Agnes (91+) and Jovette Jean (81kg), while Adrian Volcère (75kg) and Nelson Molle (91kg) brought home the bronze medals.
Neil Sirame