Kenyan boxers slug with wins in African Games in Rabat
Kenyan boxers registered important wins On Day Two of the ongoing the 12th edition of African Games in Rabat, Morocco.
George ‘Cosby’ Ouma defeated Togo’s John Koudeha 5-0 in the men’s middle to storm into the semi-finals of the games at the Al Amal Indoor Sports Centre.
Captain Nick Okoth beat Iyanga Moliko of Equatorial Guinea by a similar margin in the men’s featherweight (57kg) later on Thursday evening to reach the quarter-finals stage of the competition.
The victories came after two Kenyan boxers, Everlin Akinyi and Edwin Okongo became the first casualties in Day One of the Games.
Akinyi lost 5-0 on points to Moulahi Khouloud of Tunisia in the women’s light welterweight (60kg).
Okongo was eliminated on a 5-0 points decision by Zambia’s Kaonga Mbachi in the men’s light heavyweight (81kg) as 2015 African Games bronze medallist Elly Ajowi (91kg) and Boniface Mogunde (69kg) reached the last eight on walkovers.
Mugunde was due to fight Ethiopia’s Biru Keralah later on Friday evening. In the other quarter-finals bout, Kenya’s Maina Irungu (63kg) was due to play Ghanian Wahib Omar later on Friday.
In the women’s category, Lorna Kusa in welterweight (60kg), and Christine Ongare flyweight (51kg) have also stormed into the last eight after receiving byes.
In the 2015 tournament in Congo, Brazzaville, Kenya bagged two bronze medals through Ajowi and Nick Okoth in lightweight (60kg)
Captain Nick Okoth is upbeat the country will win more medals than the previous edition four years ago.
“I think we have to be happy with the kind of progress the boxers are making. I want to congratulate even the ones who were eliminated. You lose in the ring but gain lots of experience out of it ,”said the KDF officer, who previously won gold medal for Kenya in the African Confederation Boxing Championships (AFBC) in Congo Brazzaville last year.
“On the personal level I want to give my all, the target being winning gold. I still have a number of bouts to go, but I am keeping my eyes on the prize,” said the pugilist whose first major gold medal was during the 2005 Africa Zone Five Boxing tournament in Nairobi.
In the ongoing African Games, Kenya, with three medals two silver and one bronze, is currently ranked 16th on the medal standings.
Beach volleyball team (women) also won silver medal on Tuesday.
The Women Volleyball team Malkia Strikers will begin their title defence on Saturday with a match against African champions Cameroon. Athletics calendar will gun off on August 26 in Rabat.
