Ghanaian boxer, Samuel Takyi, has won bronze in the men’s boxing featherweight division at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics after he lost his semi-final fight to American Duke Ragan.
By winning bronze, the twenty-year-old ended Ghana’s 29 years wait for an Olympic medal, with the country’s last medal coming at the Barcelona 1992 games.
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The medal is also the fourth at the games for Ghana in the boxing event, with Takyi joining the illustrious group of Clement Quartey – 1960- Silver, Eddie Blay – 1964- Bronze, and Prince Amartey – 1972 – Bronze, as the only men to ever win Ghana an individual Olympic medal.
In boxing at the Olympics, both losing semi-finalists are awarded bronze medals, meaning Takyi will get a medal irrespective of the outcome of his semi-final fight.
Takyi started slowly, compared to the American who won the first round.
The Ghanaian, just like in his quarter-final fight against Colombian Avila Sagura, rallied back in the second round, but he was caught multiple times by Ragan in a brawly 3rd round where neither of them dominated.
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The judges scored the fight 4-1 in favour of the American, ending Takyi and Ghana’s dream of a first-ever gold medal, but ultimately still a fairytale journey for the boy from Atukpai in Accra.