Ghanaian boxer, Samuel Takyi is set to win the country’s first medal at the Olympic Games after defeating David Avila of Colombia in the men’s featherweight event yesterday to qualify to the medal zone of the competition in Tokyo.
The 20-year-old won with a 3-2 Split Decision to advance to the medal zone to ensure Ghana ends a 29-year wait for an Olympic medal.
Young Takyi nicknamed ‘Ring Warrior’ lost the opening round 9-10 on the scorecards of all five ringside judges but came back strongly to win the fight and advance to the next stage.
That would be Ghana’s first Olympic medal since the Black Meteors won bronze, Africa’s first in soccer at the 1992 event in Barcelona, Spain.
It would also be a first medal in boxing since Prince Amartey won bronze in middleweight at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany.
Samuel Takyi also becomes Ghana’s fourth Olympic medalist in boxing following the likes of Clement Quartey and Eddie Blay who won silver and bronze respectively at the 1964 Games in Tokyo, both at light welterweight.
He will also land Africa’s first medal in boxing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The Ghanaian will face USA’s Duke Ragan in his next bout but already guaranteed a medal.
A win for the Ghanaian will take him to the final where he can make history by winning an Olympic Gold medal.
BY MICHAEL D.ABAYATEYE
