Three female Kenyan boxers will enter the ring on Thursday as the country starts its medal hunt at the IBA World Women’s Boxing Championships in New Delhi, India.
The strong contingent of Kenyan pugilists left the country on Tuesday night to grace the annual premier women’s boxing extravaganza that officially began on Wednesday and runs for two weeks until March 31.
Kenya is among few African countries who have sent a full squad of 11 boxers to the showpiece and they have expressed confidence in Kenya’s medal prospects promising to break the team’s protracted medal drought that has plagued them for decades.
Pauline Chege will be the first Kenyan to take to the ring today in bout No. 6, round of 64 in ring A against Reyes Moreno Noshbet of Guatemala.
“We arrived safely despite the journey being long and tiring but we have to keep a positive mind, positive vibes all the way and I hope for the best as I promised, fight like never before,” Pauline said.
Ann Wanjiru will be the second Kenyan to take to the ring in light flyweight preliminary bout round of 32 bout No. 19, second bout in ring A session 2 against Helena Bagao of Mozambique.
“I am completely ready, the bouts start today and we will fight until we drop. Am hoping to go back home with something good and improve on my performance from my last outing.
“I believe in God that I will do well. We arrived here late and don’t have time to acclimatize and settle our minds but that won’t be an excuse not to perform well because we trained well back home,” Wanjiru said.
Amina Martha will close the day for team Kenya when she comes face to face against Landaeta Johana Carolina of Venezuela in round of 64, bout No.24 bantamweight category.
The World Boxing Championships in New Delhi and Tashkent will serve as the primary qualifying tournaments for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, according to the International Boxing Association (IBA).
The world governing body brought the development to light during a meeting held in Lausanne, Switzerland last month.
