Provisional Kenyan squad for IBA Women World Boxing Championships gets down to work

With the IBA Women World Boxing Championships in New Delhi, India fast approaching, a group of 13 selected national team boxers have embarked training in readiness for the March 15-26 event this year.

Speaking to Mozzart Sport, national boxing team head coach Musa Benjamin confirmed that the team has been in camp for the past one week and that the preparations at the Mathare Police depot have been going on smoothly.

Among the boxers selected include Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Christine Ongare, Africa Boxing Championships silver medalist Elizabeth Andiego and Africa Zone Three champion Elizabeth Akinyi.

“The ladies looked pumped up and ready,” Musa said. “I have been really impressed by the debutants in the team. I am almost certain that some of them will join us in the final squad.”

Given an allocation of 10 boxers heading to the championships, the national team coaches – Musa and his assistant David Munuhe will have their work cut out as they cut-down the list of the 13 boxers in camp.

“I cannot say who goes as of right now but we have some ‘new kids on the block’ who are gunning for a spot,” Musa said, singling out light fly-weight boxer Lencer Akinyi, featherweight Pauline Chege and Teresia Wanjiru.

The team will be looking to redeem themselves from a poor show in the previous championships in Istanbul, Turkey last year – where the team did not win any medal.

“We definitely expect better performances from the experienced boxers who’ve been there before,” Musa said. “For the young debutants, making it to the preliminary rounds will be good, as we look at ranking higher in Africa.”

IBA on Monday released a statement maintaining that their route will provide qualification for the Paris 2024 games, a decision that goes against what the International Olympics Committee had rolled out as the criteria for qualification.

ANOCA are yet to agree with the IOC on whether the Africa Games will be used as the Olympic Qualifiers and its that level of uncertainty that Musa wants to avoid, making sure that his boxers take all their international competitions seriously.

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“At this point is really confusing, all we have to do is take part in all competitions,” he clarified.

The team is expected to remain in camp till they make the trip early next month.

In other developments, Great Britain, USA and Republic of Ireland pulled out of the championships due to the fact that boxers from Russia have been allowed to participate not under a neutral flag.

Full Provisional Squad

Christine Ongare, Elizabeth Andiego, Elizabeth Akinyi, Amina Martha, Lorna Kusah, Evaline Akinyi, Pauline Chege, Ann Wanjiru, Veronica Mbithi, Alice Waiyego, Emily Juma, Lencer Akinyi and Teresia Wanjiru.