Kenya’s boxing team, the “Hit Squad,” is fighting for a chance to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics at the Boxing Second World Qualification Tournament in Bangkok.

With only three bouts remaining at the Indoor Huamark Stadium, the team’s hopes rest on two boxers. In the women’s 66kg welterweight category, newcomer Friza Anyango will face France’s Sonvico Emille. In the men’s 92kg heavyweight category, Peter Abuti, another global ring newcomer, will face the winner of the Round of 32 match between Poland’s Mateusz Bereznicki and Australia’s Adrian Paolletti on Thursday.

Martha Amina (bantamweight) was scheduled to fight Mongolian Munguntsetseg En Khjargal in the Round of 32 on Tuesday evening.

Several members of the “Hit Squad” have already been eliminated from the tournament, including 75kg middleweight Elizabeth Andiego, 80kg light-heavyweight Edwin Okong’o, and deputy captain Boniface Mogunde. As the second World Qualification Tournament enters its final stages, Kenya’s chances to secure spots for the Olympic Games are dwindling.

Despite intensive training in Cuba, a historical powerhouse in Olympic boxing, the “Hit Squad” has struggled. Cuban boxers have won 41 Olympic gold medals and a total of 78 Olympic medals in boxing, making them the third most successful nation in the sport.

Kenya had previously faced disappointment at the Dakar, Senegal, qualifiers last September and at the first World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy. Bangkok represents their last opportunity to secure a quota for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Anthony “Jamal” Ombok, president of the Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK), who accompanied the team to Bangkok, expressed optimism about their readiness for the qualifiers. However, the elimination of Okong’o and Andiego was described by Jamal as a “sad day for the Hit Squad.”

Elizabeth Andiego was defeated by German boxer Irina Nicoletta Schoenberger in a unanimous 5:0 decision on Monday. Schoenberger will face Mexico’s Citlalli Vanessa Ortiz, also known as “Bellatrix,” who triumphed over Deanne Shontel te-paea Read of New Zealand in the Round of 16. Edwin Okong’o lost on points to Mongolia’s Dalai Ganzorig in the Round of 32 in the light-heavyweight category on Monday.

Despite these setbacks, Jamal remained supportive, posting on Facebook, “We gave our best shot.”

Kenya has a storied history in Olympic boxing, with Robert Napunyi Wangila and Chris Sande winning gold and bronze medals respectively at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Philip Waruinge took bronze in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and silver in the 1972 Munich Olympics. Ibrahim Bilali (lightweight) won bronze at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and Dick Murunga (welterweight) clinched bronze in the 1972 Munich Olympics.

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