Joy Sports can exclusively confirm that flyweight boxer Abdul Omar has qualified for this year's Olympic Games in Rio in August. Omar who made it to the semi finals of a recent qualifier in Yaounde, Cameroun, failed to win the bout thus losing the opportunity to win a bronze medal to book his ticket to the games.

Wahid's story however saw a turn-around after the Ghana Amateur Boxing Federation's (GABF) President, Gideon Quartey received a letter from AIBA indicating Omar had been qualified. This special quota was granted after AIBA reviewed all the semi final bouts.

Speaking exclusively to Joy Sports, Mr Gideon Quartey said the development was a positive sign as the boxer had worked hard at the Yaounde qualifier. "I was notified by AIBA through a letter. The boxer fought well at the competition and merits this decision. What is left is for us to work harder to ensure he puts up medal winning performances in Rio," he said.  

Ghana's Amateur Boxing team, the Black Bombers presented 12 boxers at the Yaounde Qualifiers but were unsuccessful at getting into the medal zone to book their places at the multi sport event in Brazil.

Omar, who is also a bronze medalist from the last Commonwealth Games in Glasgow Scotland two years ago will be making his Olympic debut. 

He recently made the headlines for launching a plea to the Sports Ministry of Ghana for a promise of 3000 US Dollars made him, to be redeemed. He was one of only two sportsmen from Ghana to have won medals at the Glasgow Games but is yet to receive the amount which was promised by the government ahead of the event.

Added to the news of Omar's qualification is the fact that the Black Bombers have one final opportunity to qualify more boxers to the Rio Olympics.

The final qualifier event comes off in Azaberdjan in June this year and should provide an opening for the boxers to explore and answer the roll call for the boxing event. The team has set in motion a programme to ensure the ills of the previous qualifier in Yaounde, Cameroun are rectified.

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