Boxer Emillian Patrick will likely miss trials in Taipei, Taiwan because of lack of a return air ticket and allowances.
Taipei championship will be held from May 25 to June 1.The Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC) Secretary-General, Filbert Bayi, said yesterday that Boxing Federation of Tanzania (BFT) would be responsible for the no-show if the boxer would not travel to China.
Bayi said that TOC had offered BFT two return tickets in order to send the boxer and his trainer to Cuba but since the trip had aborted, BFT had never returned to them to ask for the change of the tickets.
On his part, BFT president Shaaban Mintanga said that his body had no money to send the boxer to China.
Bayi said that the boxer was scheduled to leave for China tomorrow but until yesterday nothing had been done by BFT.
Patrick is the only boxer who has qualified to represent Tanzania in the Olympic Games to be held in Beijing, China. He will be accompanied by six athletes and two swimmers.
Bayi said that Olympic team would leave for China on August 5 ready for the event which will start from August 8-22.
- SOURCE: Guardian
