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Author Time: 04-02-2008 Source: Sina.com
LONDON, Feb 2 - Four Uzbek boxers qualified for the Beijing Olympics at an Asian tournament but Jasur Matchanov was beaten in Saturday's heavyweight final by Iran's Ali Mazaheri who gained the 19th and last place on offer.
At an African qualifier this week in Algiers, eight Algerian boxers qualified for the Games in August plus six Moroccans and five Tunisians.
Three Thais earned their Olympic places at the Asian qualifying tournament in Bangkok, including Manus Boonjumnong, the 2004 gold medallist at light-welterweight, and Worapoj Petchkoom, a silver medallist in Athens at bantamweight.
Eight Thai boxers have now booked their Olympic spots and they hope for another from the second Asian qualifying tournament in Kazakhstan from March 15-25.
"I want to have nine boxers in the Olympics," said Taweep Jantararoj, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of Thailand. "I have two boxers to choose from in the light-heavyweight division."
Mazaheri, the Asian Games champion, is the second Iranian to qualify for the Games after Morteza Sepahvand who earned his spot at the 2007 world championships when 80 boxers qualified.
In Algiers, 29 boxers from 11 African countries qualified. A second African qualifier takes place in Windhoek from March 22-31. A total of 286 boxers will compete in the Beijing Games from August 8-24.
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