The Kenya national boxing team known as Hit Squad finished second overall in the just concluded Zone 3 tournament in Kinshasa.
Against a background of inept showing in major international events, the Kenyans were runners up behind hosts DRC with a total of 18 medals – six gold, five silver and seven bronze with only four boxers missing medals out of the 22 who represented the country.
More encouraging is that of the six gold medallists, three were female boxers, Teresia Wanjiru, Everline Akinyi and Liz Andiego. And to put the icing on the cake, all the 10 women boxers who travelled to DRC won medals.
Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK) President Jamal Otieno lauded the team for their great show saying he will equally continue working hard to help the team where possible.
“Am of proud of the boys and girls for putting up spirited efforts to make Kenya proud and raise our flag high on the African soil. As BFK President, I will continue talking well to the government and other stakeholders to help us in our good preparations ahead of the commonwealth games,” noted Jamal.
Hit Squad head coach Benjamin Musa said the Kenyan pugilists were using the tournament to gauge their mettle ahead of major global shows.
“The Africa Zone 3 Championships was key to our preparations ahead of the Commonwealth Games, given it afforded us an opportunity to identify our final team,” Musa said.
Their remarkable showing could not have come at a better time when they’re set to represent the country in the World Women Championships in Turkey next month.
Kenya’s fine show in DRC is a morale booster for the entire team and boxing fans as the East African country struggles to repair its battered and tattered image taking into account Kenya was once among the world’s boxing superpowers.
They are expected to use the good results in the DRC build-up tournament as a launch pad to make their presence felt in more competitive continental and prestigious global tournaments.
–kbc.co.ke
