Two Samoan boxers have qualified for the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, adding two athletes to Samoa’s contingent by two just three months before the world's greatest sporting event kicks off in July. 

Tupuola Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali and Marion Faustino Ah Tong, who managed to squeeze in a trip to Jordan in March before the shutting of international borders following the COVID-19 pandemic, have both been accepted to compete in the premier athletic event.

Tupuola will compete in the men’s heavyweight 81 to 91 kilogram division, while Ah Tong is in the welterweight 63 to 69 kilogram group.

Samoa’s Chef de Mission Nynette Sass was beaming with pride as she delivered the news to media on Monday.

“We are excited the boys have made it under their own merit,” she said.

“This is something to be excited about […] the hard work the athletes put in to making their own pathways to Tokyo. At the end of the day, this is the ultimate in excellence in sports, is to be in the Olympics.”

Ms. Sass acknowledged the athlete’s families, the Samoa Boxing Association, the Marist Brothers, the Government of Samoa and the Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (S.A.S.N.O.C) for their efforts supporting Ah Tong and Tupuola on their paths to Tokyo.

“A lot of people and organisations have come together to support the development of these young people and this is why we are very excited about the fact that two boxers have qualified.”

C.E.O. Tuala Matthew Vaea said the qualification is big news for a small country.

“It’s the dream for a young man or a young woman to reach the top of their sporting achievement.

“Ato and Marion brought us two gold medals in Savaii where Samoa hosted the Pacific Games Boxing, well this is a much bigger stage.”

The two boxers qualified under the Boxing Taskforce (B.T.F.) which was appointed by the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.) to manage the qualifiers.

(The I.O.C. recently suspended the International Boxing Association (A.I.B.A.) over governance issues and has taken over managing the Olympic boxing event for 2021).

They had both done well but not qualified at the Asia-Oceania qualifier in Jordan, and could not make the final chance to qualify in May, at the Paris event.

“There were a lot of concerns around the issues of COVID-19 and the challenges of trying to travel,” Ms. Sass explained.  

But because the two went to Jordan, they could fulfil one of the B.T.F. criteria to select athletes to go to Tokyo, given the challenges of getting to Paris.

“We are very, very excited because boxing is one of the sports S.A.S.N.O.C. is very keen on making sure we are represented in,” Ms. Sass said.

Tupuola, who is based in Sydney, is training under his father Steven Faoagali and Ah Tong is in Auckland training with Cameron Todd.

Tupuola and Ah Tong join six other athletes who have already qualified for Team Samoa. Eight more are waiting for their international federations to make their final decisions before the country will know exactly who will carry its flag to Tokyo.

Samoa is fielding the largest Olympic team in Oceania, and is entering the most competitions in the region.

There are three weightlifters, two swimmers, a canoeist, a judoka and an archer are waiting to learn whether they will be trying to travel to Japan or not.

Team Samoa:

Vaipava Nevo Ioane (Weightlifting)

Don Opeloge (Weightlifting)

Alex Rose (Discus)

Anne Cairns (Canoeing)

Tuvaa Clifton (Canoeing)

Eroni Leilua (Sailing)

Tupuola Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali (Boxing)

Marion Faustino Ah Tong (Boxing)