Published on : 07/07/2021 – 09:31
Of the eight Mauritian athletes who will line up for the Tokyo Olympics, some have chances of making a splash. To watch in particular, boxer Merven Clair, 27, for his second Olympic participation and seventh in the world in his category, 65 kg. RFI met him in training session at the National Boxing Center in Vacoas.
From our correspondent in Port-Louis,
The jump rope accelerates and decelerates at a rate which dumbfounded the young athletes who came stealthily to attend the training session of the two selected Olympians. It takes place at the National Boxing Center, one of the main venues of the Vacoas sports complex.
The two boxers are from two different generations. With the JO de Tokyo, Richarno Colin, 34, will be in his third Olympics; Merven Clair is his second participation. So far, they have been content with one participation.
« My goal is the podium »
But this time, Merven Clair is preparing to step on the podium. ” My ambition is to go to the Olympics and try to get on the podium. I’ve spent my whole life training, my whole life in the ring. Today I reach the highest level of competition. I prepared well, my goal is the podium “, Ambitions the young boxer.
Containment and border closures have disrupted the preparation of Mauritians. In mid-June, the boxing federation was still trying to find them an internship and training partners abroad. But Merven Clair does not make it an obsession. He knows his opponents, that’s already something: ” I looked at the final list of qualifiers, there is the world number one. I have already boxed against him. I have my bearings. There is number two, a Cuban. There are a lot of good boxers in the category. I am seventh in the world. I have all my chances, it’s not impossible ».
Cuban style
The national technical director, the Cuban Roberto Ivanez Chavez personally took charge of the preparation of Merven Clair. His profile reminds him of the boxers of his country. ” He is a boxer who has a good style, like the ones I worked with in Cuba. He has good movements and quality in the shots. He’s a fighter. He’s a talented athlete », Explains the Cuban coach
Mervin Clair is talented and also well surrounded. In Tokyo, he will also evolve under the watchful eye of Richarno Colin, who will be his second mentor as a former French-speaking 64 kg champion and Olympic competitor for the third time. Richarno Colin, also to watch during the games, believes that his young teammate Merven Clair can now dream big. ” He is young, disciplined and very intelligent. He has good boxing. In addition he is an excellent left-hander. He will shine at the Games », he predicts.
When Merven Clair enters the ring, two populations will hold their breath, the Mauritians and their compatriots from Rodrigues, an island 90 minutes by flight from the mainland of Mauritius. This is where Merven Clair was born. And it was there that he learned to box in the footsteps of his uncle, a former national champion. The young Mauritian is proud of his origins and his career: ” As a youngster who comes from afar from Rodrigues Island to be able to push the sport to such a height, it’s special. When I imagine where I started and where I am now, it’s special. »
Released in the first round at the Rio Olympics, then African champion in Congo in 2017 and in Morocco two years later, Merven Clair now has the experience of major events. This relative maturity and the strength of his youth give him better chances in Tokyo. A good draw against the backdrop of personal conditions at the height of the event and the stars will be able to align themselves to let his destiny slip away.
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