This archive report was first published on 24 July 2021.
July 24, 2021 - Tokyo, Japan
Kenyan boxer Nick Okoth's Olympic dreams ended at the first stage in Tokyo, with the 39-year-old confirming that Tokyo 2020 was his final step in the chase for an elusive Olympic medal.
Okoth, the national boxing team captain, said that at his age, it will be very difficult to expect him to be in the ring in the next three years when the Olympic Games are next held in Paris in 2024.
"I have won all the medals I would have wanted to win in boxing and the Olympics one is the one that I wanted, but unfortunately I was not lucky to get it," Okoth said after losing to Mongolia's Erdenebatyn Tsendbaatar.
Okoth was gracious in defeat, saying that even though he thought he had won, he had no problem with the judges who ruled 3-2 in favor of the Mongolian in the featherweight round of 32 match.
"I knew I had won the game, but after they decided otherwise then who am I to go against their decision. This is not the only game and will look forward to the Commonwealth for now," Okoth said.
Okoth's loss should not demoralize the other boxers as they prepare to get to the ring in Tokyo. Today, Christine Ongare will be taking on Philippines' Irish Magno in the women's fly round of 32 match at 11:15am (5:15am Kenyan time).
