By Eniola Olatunji
Nigeria’s Abijuwon Olalekan Farouq seeded no 9 on Tuesday night in Luanda Angola fought gallantly to reach the quarterfinal of the African Youth Games Boxing event.
Fighting in the Red Corner of the 50Kg class, Farouq who seriously pummeled his opponent, no 8 seeded Malogo Gustin of Central African Republic (CAR) in Blue Corner got a vital decision for the victory.
The Ref gave him an RSC which in boxing lexicon means Referee stops Contest in the 3rd and final round after the Ref had made two mandatory stoppages counting of Gustin. Farouq will now face No 1 seeded Salmane Kochbati of Tunisia in the quarterfinal of the contest.
Farouq had in May this year won Gold for Team Lagos at the 22nd National Sports Festival at the Ijeja Stadium, Abeokuta in a brilliant way after which he told the Media that his dream is to one day win an Olympic Gold for Nigeria and his victory in Luanda on Tuesday night has become a path to the fulfillment of that dream.
A haul of the Gold medal in Luanda will automatically qualify him for the Youth Olympic Games scheduled for October to November 2026 in Dakar, Sengal.
Farouq was calm at the Weigh-in on Monday posing for photographs with his Coach, a former Olympian Anthony Konyegwachi; the Nigerian Boxing Borad of Federation Secretary, Mrs. Vivian Azimene; the team Doctor, Dr. Onuoha; his two other colleagues, Solomon Joshua Nweke and the only female Mayowa Ayomide.
No 3 seeded Mayowa drawn bye into the quarterfinals will enter the squared rope against home girl, no 7 seeded Zola Lando of Angola who will be in the Blue Corner. If Mayowa wins, she will fight the winner between No 2 seeded Oueslati Tasnim of Tunisia and No 7 seeded Ella Demesi of Kenya in the 46-48 Kg class.
Solomon seeded No 2 in the 65-70 kg also was drawn bye and will meet the winner between No 3 seed Wisdom Pedro Malungo of Angola and no 6 seeded Sofiane Kherraf of Algeria in the quarterfinal.
The Boxing events start on Monday 15th December but the Games proper will officially end on Saturday 20th of December.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
