Kenyan boxers not affected by IOC's weight adjustments

Kenya's Elizabeth Andiego during a training session in Nairobi. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

With weight adjustments by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the Africa Olympic Qualifiers and all other Olympic qualifiers globally, Kenya will not be affected by the new development.

The Africa Olympic Qualifiers boxes-off in Dakar, Senegal on Saturday and will run for a week until September 15.

Only two changes in two weight categories made by the IOC have affected the male boxers.

They are welterweight (69kg) and middleweight (74kg).

The welterweight division has been increased from 69kg to 71kg while middleweight from 74kg to 80kg, a development that could only affect teams that have fielded full teams.

Deputy team captain Boniface Mogunde easily fits as a middleweight boxer will play in the light middleweight (71kg).

Kenya has no welterweight boxer among the six male players in the contingent.

However, there are two female boxers in the two weight categories.

They are youngster Friza Anyango in the welterweight (69kg) and team captain Elizabeth Andiego who will take part in the middleweight (75kg).

On Wednesday, Andiego said it was a good experience to be in Havana, which concentrated their lessons on footwork and self-defence for the better part of the training sessions.

“Key to our training was footwork and defence both from the Cuban and Kenyan coaches. We were also taught on ways to score points in the course of the match and this applied to all of us,” said Andiego.