Jonas Junias Jonas, Namibia’s most promising amateur boxer, outfoxed Sri Lanka’s Dinidu Ponawela Vidanalage Don during their action-packed 64kg category fight on Thursday at the 2018 Commonwealth Games to reach the semifinals.
On his way to the semifinals, the 24-year-old Namibian nimble-fingered pugilist first announced his arrival at the games with a splendid victory over Bahamian opponent Rashield Williams in his opening bout in the highly competitive 64kg category.
Next on his slaying list was Valentin Kondakov of Samoa, whom Jonas made easy work of with a 2nd round knockout to book a place in the quarterfinals, where he confronted Vidanalage yesterday in search of a place in the semifinals.
As was expected, Jonas – who scooped a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games to become only the fourth Namibian boxer to win a medal at the games – proved to be too much for the somewhat slow and ineffective Samoan, whom he convincingly outscored to secure a place in the semifinals.
With the victory, Jonas – who was the Namibian flagbearer at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – will now face England’s Luke McCormack in the second semifinal of the day on Friday, where he is expected to deliver another spirited performance.
Jonas remains the only Namibian boxer at the games, after compatriots Matias Hamunyela and Tryagain Ndevelo were knocked out of the competition following their defeats. Hamunyela lost to Shaffi Hassan of Kenya while Ndevelo succumbed to the quick hand of Harry Garside of Australia.
More action is expected from Team Namibia, which is competing in boxing, Para-sport, triathlon, cycling, gymnastics, athletics and bowls at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, which ends on April 15.
