25 July 2021 | Olympics

Catherine Nanziri is set to become Uganda’s first female boxer competing at the Olympics when she takes on Japan’s Tsukimi Namiki on Sunday.

The duo will be seeking a spot in the Women's Flyweight (48-51kg) Round of 16. Tsukimi is a soldier by profession and holds a home advantage, a reason it has been dubbed as a “tricky” by bookmakers.

Nanziri who will hail from the blue corner - has experience from the African continent and remains confident of her preparation for the fight, coupled with learned lessons about her opponent. 

“I have already studied my opponent and I am not scared at all, although she is at her home town, I am ready to outcompete her like I did to a senegalese Timera Khadija at the Africa olympic qualifier games in Dakar,” Nanziri said.

“I am so delighted to be the first member of the bombers team to enter the ring, I have prepared very well and God willing I hope to raise Uganda’s flag high.”

Nanziri has three recognised fights, which came at the Africa Championship in Dakar where she won once and lost twice.

Tsumiki who has won 12 of her 15 amateur fights, was named the 2018 and 2019 Female Boxer of the Year by the Japan Amateur Boxing Federation. Victory for Nanziri will set up a bout against Brazil’s Sousa Graziele. 

When to watch Nanziri compete at the Tokyo Olympics;

Women's Flyweight (48-51kg) Round of 32

Date and Time: Sun 25 July (11:15 am EAT)

Venue: Ryōgoku Kokugikan

Recent Comments