(BEIJING, January 28) -- Eleven boxers from seven African countries qualified for the Beijing Olympic Games after the first round of the AIBA African Olympic Qualification event in Algiers, Algeria on January 27 (local time).
The top three finalists in the four weight divisions of 48kg, 54kg, 60kg and 69kg and the top two in the 81kg category automatically booked spots in the Beijing Olympic boxing competition, according to the AIBA official website.
Despite losing the 69kg semifinal to Hussein Bakr Abdin Hosam from Egypt, the 11th qualifier, Choayeb Oussassi from host country Algeria, also booked a ticket, after Rached Merdassi of Tunisia, his would-be opponent in Tuesday's bronze medal match, was disqualified.
During the nine-day qualification event, a total of 29 Olympic Qualification vacancies are to be assigned, and twenty additional boxers will compete for ten more Olympic berths Monday (local time) in the 51kg, 57kg, 64kg, 75kg and 91kg divisions.
An additional 29 African boxers will qualify during the second qualifying tournament from March 22 to 31 in Windhoek, Namibia.
