Hit Squad goes hunting for glory in Russia
Boxing
By
Ben Ahenda
| May 04, 2021
As they prepare for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the national boxing team, Hit Squad', will take part in the Konstantin Korotkov Memorial Boxers' Cup Internarional, in Russia, from May 10-18.
The nine-day tournament will be held at Lenina Regional Sports Complex Stadium.
The team of four boxers, who have already qualified for Olympics, will face some of the top European boxers who are also shaping up for the Summer Games.
The four Kenyan boxers are 2015 Africa Boxing championships lightweight (60kg) gold medallist Nick 'Commander' Okoth, double Olympian and Africa Zone Three super heavyweight (over 91kg) gold medallist Elly Ajowi, Commonwealth Games flyweight (48kg) bronze medallist Christine Ongare and national lightweight (58kg) champion Elizabeth Akinyi.
Okoth will fight in the featherweight (57kg) and Ajowi heavyweight (91kg) at the Olympics.
READ MORE
Kenya-UK trade reaches all time high of Sh360b
Nairobi picked to host world's largest food trade platform
Inside Molo MP Kuria Kimani's Sh10.5m Mercedes-Benz dispute
Court allows Amario's alleged son to appeal bid for share of Sh760m estate
Every baby counts: Investing in Kenya's newborns' health
Eight years later, Kendagor's Sh360m estate finally divided
Kenya sells urban climate change projects despite drawbacks
Kihika's widows suffer setback in Sh600 million estate dispute case
Sixty South Koreans to return home Saturday after Cambodia detention
The quartet will be accompanied by head coach Musa Benjamin, assistant coaches David Munuhe and John Waweru, Communication Director Duncan Kuria, while the team manager will be Linus Ouma.
Coach Benjamin said they have already received a nod from the Ministries of Health and Sports to continue with their preparations for the trip in line with stipulated Covid-19 guidelines.
"We are ready for the big boys in the European league. This gives us the courage ahead of the Olympic Games," Benjamin told Standard Sports.
The team leaves on Saturday. Initially, the tournament was to be held in The Netherlands but was switched to Khabarovsk.
This will be the second international competition the team will be taking part in. They first competed in the Africa Zone Three Championships in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo in March.
Kenya was represented by 16 boxers in Kinshasa, where they won 13 medals; one gold, five silver and seven bronze medals.
Yesterday, Benjamin said the team was responding well to training at AV Fitness Centre in Lavington, Nairobi.