Boxers show promise at Africa event

Africa Zone Three Boxing Championships light heavyweight gold medalist Elizabeth Andiego in a training session for the 22nd edition of Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England starting on July 30th, 2022.

Although Kenya finished 12th at the Africa Boxing Championships in Maputo, Mozambique, medals won showed the country was in the right path to reclaim its tattered image.

Hosts Mozambique emerged overall winners followed by Algeria, Zambia, Morocco, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Botswana, Mauritius, South Africa, Egypt, Sierra Leone and Kenya.

After a dismal performance at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham where they returned home empty handed, the 'Hit Squad' this time reaped four medals - three silver and one bronze medals at the Africa Boxing Championships.

The silver medals were won by former Africa lightweight champion Nick Okoth, Africa Zone Three light heavyweight gold medallist Elizabeth Andiego and debutante and national featherweight champion Samuel Njau.

The bronze medal came through Africa Zone Three light middleweight silver medallist Boniface Mogunde.

And for the first time the medallists returned home with cash prizes besides the medals.

All the silver medallists pocketed USD5000 (Sh602,000) and bronze medallist USD2,500 (Sh301,000).

Boxing Federation of Kenya President Anthony 'Jamal' Ombok said they were on the right track to revamp the fallen standards but appealed for patience.

"Winning these medals have proved a point that Kenyan boxers are still capable of bouncing back to the continental supremacy. In order to do so, we must be patient with each other," Ombok told Standard Sports.