Kiwi boxers still eyeing Olympics
Coronavirus is hampering New Zealand boxers from qualifying for the Olympics, but they’re not throwing the towel in yet.
Only one Kiwi boxer – David Nyika – has qualified for the Olympics so far, but the others are ‘‘still in training’’.
The New Zealand boxing team arrived back on Saturday, following the Oceania Olympic boxing qualifiers in Jordan, where Nyika qualified.
The team arrived home just before the coronavirus-related border restrictions came into place oat midnight last night.
Those who didn’t qualify in Jordan were eyeing up a second qualifier in Paris in a month’s time, but Boxing New Zealand chair Keith Walker said this too was now in doubt.
France has moved to close all nonessential businesses and access to public spaces as neighbouring countries, including Spain, go into lock down.
‘‘The IOC (International Olympic Committee) will have some big decisions,’’ he said.
The athletes were ‘‘still in training’’ just in case the Paris qualifiers do go ahead, Walker said.
The team management will meet this week to put plans in place regarding athletes preparing for the Olympics.
The organisation has also run out of money to send athletes to Paris. The financial coffers were diminished after the original qualifiers, in Wuhan, were cancelled.
The New Zealand team was in a training camp in Thailand when the Wuhan competition was cancelled.
They then went to Italy to train for the qualifiers in Jordan. The side was able to get out of Italy before the borders were closed.
The organisation said last month the effect of coronavirus has cost them between $30,000 to $40,000 as they moved athletes around the world.
The organisation only received $40,000 from High Performance Sport New Zealand in 2020.
Walker said athletes will have to self-fund the trip to Paris to qualify for the games.
Because of the cost it might limit the number of athletes going to Paris and in turn qualifying for the Olympics, Walker said.