The bombers have fully exited the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after last man standing Shadiri Bwogi lost to Georgian boxer Eskerkhan Madiev by split decision on Tuesday.

Bwogi seemed a little slower out of the blocks but successfully landed a chunk of his punches while Madiev ensured frequent contact in the round of 16 men’s welterweight (63-69kg) bout.

The result was a 3-1 loss for Bwogi after the judges scored 29-27, 28-28, 26-30, 26-30, 26-30 in favour of Madiev who face either Zambian Zimba Stephen or Russian Zamkovoi Andrei at the quarterfinal stage.

Uganda’s boxing drought at the Olympics continues, dating back to the Moscow 1980 Games when John Mugabi walked away with a silver medal in the welterweight category. 

Bwogi now joins fellow Ugandan boxers Catherine Nanziri who lost to Japanese soldier Tsukimi Namiki and David Ssemujju who bowed out at the hands of Younes Nemouchi. 

Ugandan and Dolphins club swimmer Ambala Atuhaire Ogola seeks to make a dream Olympics debut at the 2020 Tokyo games when he competes in the men’s 100m freestyle on Tuesday. 

Ambala will compete from lane 1 of heat 2, pursuing progression to the semifinals if he finishes among the best 16 from all 8 heats at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. 

The 20-year-old has been a work in progress, improving his time since his first major 100m freestyle event at the 2018 African Championships in Algeria.

From 56:55 in Algeria to 54:59 at the 2019 African Games in Morocco, Ambala secured Tokyo Olympics qualification with an entry time of 53.89 during the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju. 

Speaking ahead of his event, Ambala said; “Training has been going on well. I have been working on the final details with my coach, working on the speed, some skills and drills and I am looking forward to getting my racing.”

Ambala’s participation in the 100m freestyle will be the first time the distance has been attempted by a Ugandan at the Olympics since Los Angeles 1984, when Daniel Mulumba returned 1:07.86.

When to watch Ambala compete at the Tokyo Olympics;

Men’s 100m Freestyle Heat 2

Date and Time: Tue July 27 (1:04pm EAT)

Venue: Tokyo Acquatics Centre

Bombers captain Shadiri Bwogi is out to salvage Uganda’s boxing hopes at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as he faces Georgian boxer Eskerkhan Madiev on Tuesday. 

The round of 16 men’s welterweight (63-69kg) fight follows a bye situation for Bwogi while Madiev had to defeat Cuban boxer Lorenzo Sotomayor Collazo – a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics.

Bwogi 24, qualified for the Olympics by finishing third in the welterweight category at the 2020 African qualifying tournament in Diamniadio, Senegal.

On the other hand, Madiev secured a spot at the games through his performance at the 2021 European Qualifying Event in Paris, France.

The 23-year-old Georgian has wealth of experience for his age of 34 wins (1KO) and 16 losses in his amateur boxing career. Bwogi has won 4 fights and lost 2. 

A victory for Bwogi will mean Uganda’s first boxing win at the Olympics in 17 years. The winner will have to face either Zambian Zimba Stephen or Russian Zamkovoi Andrei at the quarterfinal stage.

When to watch Bwogi compete at the Tokyo Olympics;

Men’s welterweight (63-69kg) Round of 16

Date and Time: Tue 27 July ( 11:30am EAT)

Venue: Ryōgoku Kokugikan

Names: Halimah Nakaayi

Age: 26

Gender: Female

Place of birth: Mukono 

Birth Country: Uganda

Place of residence: Mukono

Residence Country: Uganda

Background: Nakaayi’s family were initially reluctant to allow her to pursue athletics and wanted her to focus on education. She combined sport with studying for a bachelor’s degree, and graduated in 2018. Her family is made up of strong Muslims.

Highlights: Nakaayi became the first Ugandan athlete to win a world championship medal in the 800m, when she claimed gold in 1:58.04 at the 2019 edition in Doha, Qatar. She has also claimed Gold at the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games when she ran 400m in 57.16. At the 2019 African Games in Morocco, she ran 2:03.55, finishing 3rd over 800m. Nakaayi is appearing for these Tokyo Olympics as her second edition after the Rio Games in Brazi that saw her make 17th over 800m in 2:00.63.

2020 Tokyo Olympics Initial Participation pending progress; 

Women’s 800m Round 1 – Heat 1-6

Date and Time: Fri 30 July (3:55am – 4:35am EAT)

Venue: Olympic Stadium

Women’s 800m Final

Date and Time: Tue 3 Aug. (3:25 pm EAT)

Venue: Olympic Stadium

• Japan’s Shohei Ono successfully defended his Olympic title in the men’s -73kg judo
• Sofia Pozdniakova won an all-Russian fencing final 15-11 to take goal in women’s saber 
• Ivory Coast’s Ruth Gbagbi claimed bronze in the women’s -67kg in the taekwondo
• Indian swimmer Sajan Prakash failed to qualify for the men’s 200m butterfly semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics after finishing fourth in Heat 2
• Thirteen-year-old Momiji Nishiya became the Japan’s youngest-ever gold medal winner after claiming the Olympic women’s skateboarding street competition

Japan’s Shohei Ono successfully defended his Olympic title in the men’s -73kg judo, becoming the first judoka to claim multiple gold medals in the category. It is also the host nation’s fourth Olympic gold in judo at the Tokyo Games. One of the most intense battles of the day started in the men’s -73kg quarterfinal between home favorite Ono and Rustam Orujov of Azerbaijan, who had lost to Ono in the final at Rio 2016. However, Orujov failed once again, thumping the tatami with disappointment after Ono won with an ippon. Ono then downed Tsogtbaatar Tsend-Ochir of Mongolia in the semifinal, before clinching gold by defeating London 2012 men’s -66kg champion Lasha Shavdatuashvili in the final, to become the fourth male judoka from Japan to win multiple gold medals. [Xinhua]

Sofia Pozdniakova won an all-Russian fencing final 15-11 to take goal in women’s saber and consign teammate Sofya Velikaya to a third consecutive silver medal in the event. Pozdniakova is the daughter of Russian Olympic Committee president and four-time gold medalist Stanislav Pozdnyakov. Velikaya was individual saber runner-up at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. She also has a team gold from 2016. [AP]

Ivory Coast’s Ruth Gbagbi claimed bronze in the women’s -67kg in the taekwondo on day three at the Tokyo Games. She matched her bronze from from Rio as she beat Brazil’s Milena Titoneli 12-8 in the -67kg category. [BBC Sport]

Indian swimmer Sajan Prakash failed to qualify for the men’s 200m butterfly semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics after finishing fourth in Heat 2 on Monday. Prakash, who clocked a personal best of 1:56:38 in Italy last month to breach the A mark for Olympic qualification, could only manage 1:57.22 to finish 24th among 38 swimmers. The top-16 progressed to the semifinals. [First Post]

Thirteen-year-old Momiji Nishiya dazzled during the Olympic women’s skateboarding street competition. She skated through a park of rails, ramps and stairs meant to mimic city street parks at the Ariake Urban Sports Park. When she finished, she became Japan’s youngest-ever gold medal winner and one of the youngest Olympic champions of all time. [WABE]

Ugandan middleweight boxer David Ssemuju has bowed out of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after losing to Algerian nemesis Younes Nemouchi on Monday.

Ssemujju lost the bout by unanimous decision (5-0) following a challenging first round that Nemouchi dominated before more even second and third round.

From the blue corner Ssemujju’s aggressive approach was just not enough to say the judges who scored 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27 and 30-27 in favour of Nemouchi.

The Algerian progresses to the round of 16 where he will meet Filipino boxer, also 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist – Eumir Felix Marcial who got a bye.

Ssemujju joins fellow Ugandan boxer Catherine Nanziri who also exited the games after losing to Japan’s Tsunami Namiki in the women’s flyweight (48-51kg) round of 32 on Sunday.

Ugandan boxer David Kavuma Ssemujju faces familiar foe Younes Nemouchi from Algeria in the Tokyo Olympics men’s middleweight round of 32 on Monday.

Ssemujju meets Nemouchi for the second time after their bout at the 2020 African Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament that was held in Diamniadio, Senegal from 20 to 29 February 2020.

The Ugandan seeks revenge after losing the semifinal 4-1 to Nemouchi who went on to claim gold in the category thanks to his 4-1 final victory over Congolese David Tshama.

Speaking ahead of the fight, Ssemujju says he has prepared enough to upset his nemesis. “I am ready mentally and physically to outcompete this guy and take my revenge as well,” he said.

“I lost to him in Dakar and since then I feel I have made enough revision to do a boxing retake. One of our coaches (Patrick Lihanda) is a two time Olympic and he has given me all sorts of skills I can use to win the fight.”

Nemouchi – who booked his ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after eliminating fourth placed Ssemujju last year – is 27 years old with a record of 18 fights, 12 wins (2 KOs) and 6 losses. 

Ssemujju has racked up 6 wins and 4 losses in 10 fights. Among those is a loss he suffered at the hands of England’s Luke McCormack in the Men’s 64kg round of 32 at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

The 28 year-old qualified for the Tokyo Olympics through the IOC boxing task force rankings. He also represented Uganda at the Rabat Africa Games in 2019, attaining rank 2.

The winner of this bout will progress to the round of 16 where they will meet Filipino boxer, also 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist – Eumir Felix Marcial who got a bye.

When to watch Ssemujju compete at the Tokyo Olympics;

Men’s Middleweight (69-75kg) Round of 32

Date and Time: Mon 26 July (12:18pm EAT)

Venue: Ryōgoku Kokugikan

As the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Games continue in Japan, we take a closer look at rising Jacob Kiplimo’s profile, a Ugandan long distance runner.

Name: Jacob Kiplimo

Age: 24

Gender: Male

Place of Birth: Bukwo 

Country of birth: Uganda

Place of residence : Kapchorwa

Residence Country: Uganda

Background: Kiplimo is a member of the Sebei ethnic group, he grew up in Bukwo on Mount Elgon, living at high altitude. He has three step-brothers Robert Chemonges, Oscar Chelimo and Victor Kiplagat who have all competed in long-distance running for Uganda. 

Highlights: At the age of 15, Kiplimo won the 10,000 metres bronze medal at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships. He first competed at the Olympics at the 2016 Summer edition – the youngest ever Olympian for Uganda. At age 16, he produced a performance of a lifetime to win gold in the men’s U20 race at the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Kampala, the country’s first ever gold medal at a World Cross, covering the 8 km course in 22:40 minutes.At the 2019 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark, Kiplimo finished second in the senior men’s race 4 seconds after Joshua Cheptegei’s winning time of 31:40. Kiplimo did not run in the 10,000 metres at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, because of an injury.In 2020 Kiplimo won the 5000 m run in Ostrava on 8 September in a time of 12:48.63 and improved his personal best. On 17 September Kiplimo won a Diamond League 3000 m run in Rome in a time of 7:26.64, the fastest 3000 m since Kenenisa’s 7:25.70 in August 2007. Kiplimo’s time is the 8th fastest time ever and second placed Jakob Ingebrigtsen time of 7:27.05 became the 9th. He won the Half Marathon World Championship in a time of 58:49 on 17 October 2020. The event took place in Gdynia, Poland and was a Ugandan record and championship record. On 21 March, 2021 Kiplimo competed at the Campaccio-International Cross Country race in San Giorgio su Legnano, Italy. Despite falling during the ninth kilometer of the race Kiplimo won the 10km in 29:07. On 19 May, 2021 Kiplimo returned to the track racing 10000m at the 60th Ostrava Golden Spike in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Jacob pulled away from Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew to win the race. Kiplimo finished in a personal best time of 26:33.93, which made him the 7th fastest 10000m performer of all time, and the second fastest Ugandan in history over the distance behind world record holder Joshua Cheptegei’s 26:11.00.

Tokyo Olympics Participation;

Men’s 10,000m Final

Date and Time: Fri 30 July (2:30pm EAT)

Venue: Olympic Stadium

Men’s 5000m Round 1 – Heat 1-2

Date and Time: Tue 3 Aug. (2:00pm -2:20pm EAT)

Venue: Olympic Stadium

Men’s 5000m Final

Date and Time: Fri 6 Aug. (3:00pm EAT)

Venue: Olympic Stadium

• Johnny Hooper returned to Japan –  his mother’s homeland – for his Olympic debut and helped U.S win the men’s water polo
• Tennis World No.1 Ash Barty has been knocked out of the Tokyo Olympics singles in the first round by Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo in straight sets
• India’s table tennis star Manika Batra made a stunning comeback against world number 32 Margaryta Pesotska to reach the women’s singles third round
• Costa Rican gymnast Luciana Alvarado ended her floor routine in Olympic qualifying on one knee in homage to the Black Lives Matter movement that spread around the world after George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis last year
• Japan’s Naomi Osaka, the star of the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, began her quest for gold Sunday with a 6-1, 6-4 win over China’s Zheng Saisai

Johnny Hooper returned to Japan –  his mother’s homeland for his Olympic debut and he was surely instrumental in helping U.S. defeat hosts Japan 15-13 in the men’s water polo. The win came on the first day of the men’s water polo tournament at the Tokyo Games. Hooper scored from deep with the U.S. clinging to a one-goal lead in the final minute to help close out the win. Hooper’s mother was born in Kumakura and his grandmother lives in Japan. But they weren’t able to watch the game in person because of the coronavirus pandemic. [AP]

Tennis World No.1 Ash Barty has been knocked out of the Tokyo Olympics singles in the first round, upset by unheralded Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo in straight sets. In the biggest shock of the Games so far, 48th-ranked Sorribes Tormo beat the newly crowned Wimbledon champion 6-4, 6-3. The defeat, in which Barty made 55 unforced errors to Sorribes Tormo’s 13, leaves the Australian’s medal hopes resting on the doubles, in which she advanced to the second round with a first-up win with Storm Sanders on Saturday. “It was a tough day, a disappointing day. I can’t lie about that,” Barty told the Seven Network. “It was just loose. I knew I wanted to try and take the match on today and it was going to be a fine line of pushing too hard and not getting stuck into patterns I didn’t want to get stuck in. [I was] just too erratic today, I wasn’t able to make enough balls.” [The Guardian]

India’s table tennis star Manika Batra made a stunning comeback against world number 32 Margaryta Pesotska to reach the women’s singles third round but G Sathiyan succumbed to the pressure on his Olympic debut to exit the men’s singles competition here on Sunday. While the 26th seed Sathiyan was expected to beat world number 94 Hong Kong’s Siu Hang Lam in his second round match after getting a first round bye, the same cannot be said about Manika, whose gritty approach under pressure proved decisive against her higher-ranked opponent from Ukraine. [Times of India]

Costa Rican gymnast Luciana Alvarado ended her floor routine in Olympic qualifying on one knee, her head back and her right fist thrust straight into the air. The 18-year-old said the closing of her routine was choreographed in homage to the Black Lives Matter movement that spread around the world after George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis last summer. Alvarado said Friday after she performed the same move at training that she hoped to highlight the importance of equal rights on a global stage, and champion treating all with respect and dignity. “Because we’re all the same,” she said, “and we’re all beautiful and amazing.” [AP]

Japan’s Naomi Osaka, the star of the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, began her quest for gold Sunday with a 6-1, 6-4 win over China’s Zheng Saisai in her first match since taking a break for mental health reasons. The second-seeded Osaka, the favourite for gold following the shock first-round exit of Ashleigh Barty, will play Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic in the last Australian Open champion Osaka had not played since May, when she walked out of the French Open saying that media commitments were harming her mental health. [Daily Monitor]

Boxer Catherine Nanziri made history as Uganda’s first boxer at the Olympics despite losing to Japan’s Tsukimi Namiki in the women’s flyweight (48-51kg) round of 32 on Sunday.

The 21 year-old reached the milestone to etch her name in the history books as she impressed with good footwork, bringing it to the soldier – also the Japanese 2018 and 2019 Female Boxer of the Year.

Namiki nevertheless claimed the victory of the three-round fight by unanimous decision – the judges scoring 30-27 on all five cards in favour of the red corner.

Nanziri therefore bows out of the Tokyo Olympics while Namiki progresses to the round of 16 to face Brazil’s Sousa Graziele who got a bye.