WINDHOEK – Amateur boxers Mathias Hamunyela and Jonas Junias are positive they will qualify for the 2017 Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) World Boxing Championships this year.
The championships will be held in Hamburg, Germany from 25 August to 3 September 2017.
The two boxers as well as Matheus Kasolo will get a chance to qualify for Germany during the 2017 African Boxing Championships in Congo-Brazzaville from 17 to 25 June.
Hamunyela and Junias competed at the 2016 Olympic Games (but did not do well) and 2015 All Africa Games, where both won silver medals. They fight in the 49kg and 64kg categories, respectively, while Kasolo fights in the 60kg category.
Speaking to Nampa on Thursday, Hamunyela said he has been training hard.
“I really want to qualify for the world champs in August and I would like to do it in style while in Congo,” he said.
Hamunyela said he has been in a training camp for the last two months and feels winning gold will not be that difficult if he focuses during the fights.
He said competing in the world championships in August will be a dream come true as it might land him an opportunity to be registered under the AIBA boxers.
Meanwhile Junias, who also won a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, told this news agency he did not prepare as well as he wanted, but is ready to do the job.
“I was not sure if we were going to travel because nothing was confirmed earlier, but I prepared and all I want to do now is qualify for the world championships when in Congo,” he said.
The boxers left for Congo-Brazzaville on Thursday afternoon. – Nampa
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