Rising Ethiopian boxing star Fikremariam Yadesa failed to secure qualification to the 2024 Paris Olympics after storming into the finals of the ongoing African Boxing Championships in Dakar, Senegal.
Fikremariam was defeated in the final by Dolapo Joshua of Nigeria, ending his hopes of qualifying for Paris Olympics.
The 26-year-old, representing his country in the 57kg category, defeated his Algerian opponent in a semi-final bout to make it four consecutive victories in the Boxing Road to Paris series currently underway in Dakar. The young pugilist continued his preparations as he eyed a spot among the 124 boxers who will compete in the men’s competition at the Games.
Fikeremariam was one of six Ethiopians vying for slots at Paris 2024 through this continental qualifier.
Paris 2024 will feature boxing across 13 weight classes, with seven events for men and six for women. In a boost for gender equality, the total athlete quota will consist of 248 spots split equally between male and female boxers.
The qualification process involved seven Road to Paris tournaments between June 2023 and May 2024, including continental qualifiers in 2023 and two world qualifiers in the first half of 2024. The quarterfinalists from these events will be added to the Olympic boxing roster.
The Paris 2024 Olympics will take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024. The French capital, Paris, will serve as the main host city, with events scheduled across 16 additional cities throughout metropolitan France. One sub-host city has also been designated in Tahiti, an island in French Polynesia.
