Robert Amartey Tagoe loses Youth Olympic Games boxing quarter-final

Ghanaian boxer Robert Amartey Tagoe, also known as Hitter Jnr, has been eliminated from the men's 70kg boxing competition at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar after a 4-1 points loss to the United Arab Emirates' Moaz Wael in the quarter-final match. Despite receiving a point from one judge, Tagoe's defeat was sealed by a point deduction, leaving him with no chance to advance to the semi-finals.

The loss marked the end of Tagoe's competition as Ghana's sole representative in boxing at the Games. Despite the disappointment, Tagoe remains optimistic, believing that the experience will make him stronger in future tournaments. He targets a spot on the Black Bombers, Ghana's senior national boxing team, to further his development and strive for international success.

The boxer was coached by Yaro, also known as Joe Martey, who remains confident in Tagoe's prospects. Ghana Boxing Federation second vice-president Solomon Otoo Lartey, present in Dakar to support the young boxer, deemed his performance encouraging and expressed faith in Tagoe's bright future. However, Ghana's medal aspirations at the Games remain unfulfilled, as none of the country's 13 athletes have secured a medal thus far.

The 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar marked the first time an Olympic event had been held on African soil, with over 200 nations participating in the competition.