BY ERNEST NDUNDA
Kenya secured one gold, silver and two bronze medals as the Benazir Bhutto International Memorial Boxing Championships that ended on Thursday night at Liaquat Gymnasium in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Kenya had entered four boxers to the semi-finals, but two were narrowly eliminated settling the stage for two Kenyans to seek gold medals in the final.
Peter Mungai crushed Ariunbold Ganselem of Mongolia 21-7 in the final of light flyweight to win Kenya the only gold.
Mungai played aggressively giving his opponent little time to respond to his powerful punches.
In the semi-final, Mungai had showed little respect to Mohammed Nasir of Pakistan when he knocked him out of the tournament on 18-8 points victory.
The win saw Mungai set a final date with Ganselem who defeated Amila Nuwan of Sri Lanka 16-9 in the other semi-final.
Benson Gicharu also displayed classic show in the final of flyweight before losing to Pakistan’s Mohammed Waseen 9-26 for the silver.
Rayton Okwiri and Charles Okoth grabbed a bronze each to enable Kenya settle for the fourth overall position out of the 16 countries, that took part in the tournament.
Uzbekistan were declared the best overall with six gold medals while Syria were second with two golds and the same number of silver medals.
According to the Chairman of the Amateur Boxing Association John Kameta, Kenya had 10 boxers in the championships.
Kameta said the boxers used the tournament to gauge their strength as they prepare for the national trials to pick national team for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Results: Finals (49kg): Peter Mungai (Ken) bt Ariunbold Ganselem (Mon) 21-7
52kg: Mohammad Waseem (Pak) bt Benson Gicharu (Ken) 26-9; 56kg: Shayimov Orzubek (Uzb) bt Wassam Slamana (Syr) 19-15 60kg: Gaibnazarov Fazalidin (Uzb) got walkover against Ayrin Ismetov (Bul)
64kg: Rahmanov Sanjarbek (Uzb) bt Ambomo Serge (Cam) 38-25; 69kg: Normatov (Uzb) bt Mamadajov Ahmad (Uzb) 18-11
75kg: Abdulayev Shuhrat (Uzb) bt Atoev Abbos (Uzb) 18-10; 81kg: Rasulov Elshod (Uzb) bt Manaf Assad (Syr) 21-10;
91kg: Mohammad Ghossoum (Syr) bt Tulaganov Rustam (Uzb) 27-22 +91kg: Soumar Ghossoun (Syr) bt Ali Salmani (Ira) 26-12.
