Kenyan representatives at the International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s World Boxing Championships in Istanbul failed to secure medal bracket during a two week sporting extravaganza that concludes on May 20.
Despite excellent campaign during African Zone 3 Championship in which Kenya performed very well especially the ladies team in Kinshasa, DR Congo when the team won 18 medals ,10 boxers who represented the country in Turkey exited the 12th edition of the competition with none of them winning a bout.
Africa Zone Three Boxing Championships light heavyweight gold medalist Elizabeth Andiego who was the only Kenyan boxer still in contention after the rest were eliminated at the preliminary rounds on Monday lost by points to Turkey’s Guneri Elif in their light heavy weight fight.
We gave it our best shot,but it wasn't good enough. We've exited the Championship.All in All we give thanks to God.
Thank you @moscakenya,@OlympicsKe,out technical dept, our beloved boxers and fans for work put in preparation,travel and participation at the Championship. pic.twitter.com/1u9rYOze8j
— Boxing Federation of Kenya (@KenyaBoxing) May 17, 2022
Others who were part of the squad include Commonwealth Games flyweight bronze medallist Christine Ongare and Africa Zone Three light middleweight silver medallist Lorna Kusa.
Ongare faltered against 2018 World Championship silver medallist Hanna Okhota of Ukraine, losing 5-0 points in the minimum-weight contest on Tuesday night while Kusa had little to offer against Kazakhstan’s Valentina Khalzova, who subjected her to a flurry of blows, sending her to the canvas.
This was not the first time the experienced trio of Andiego,Ongare and Kusa to take part in the global championships as they have participated in the past events.
Other members in the squad included flyweight Ann Wanjiru, bantamweight Alice Weiyego, featherweight Amina Martha, lightweight Stacy Ayoma, light welterweight Teresia Wanjiru, welterweight Everlyn Akinyi and middleweight Elizabeth ‘Jaber’ Akinyi.
Over 1000 boxers from 93 countries were out to fight for 10 gold, 20 silver and 40 bronze medals in the two week-showpiece culminating on Friday.
Africa was being represented by a total of 43 boxers from 12 countries with Kenya leading with 10 boxers followed by South Africa 8, Morocco 6, DRC 5, Algeria 4, Egypt, Mozambique and Senegal had 2 each while Burundi, Cape Verde, Mali and Sierra Leone had one each.