Kenyans face an uphill task at global tournament

flyweight Christine Ongare, boxing team Kenya-Hit squad. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Kenya face an uphill task in ensuring her boxers land within the medal bracket as the World Women Boxing Championships start in Istanbul, Turkey tonight.

Over 1000 boxers from 93 countries will be out to fight for 10 gold, 20 silver and 40 bronze medals in the two week-showpiece ending on May 21.

And as Kenyan boxers take the ring, they should expect tough times from different opponents taking into account that medal winners will walk home with cash prizes after International Boxing Association (IBA) for the first time introduced cash prizes in the global championships that were introduced last year at the men’s global championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

Gold medalists will take home 100,000 dollars (Sh11 million), silver medalists 50,000 dollars (Sh6 million) and bronze medalists 25,000 dollars (Sh3 million).

IBA President Umar Kremlev said he was happy the women global championship was taking shape after 20 years of existence.

“The story of women’s boxing in IBA is relatively young but full of promise. With a record 93 countries coming to Istanbul, we can clearly see that women’s boxing has become a global phenomenon,” Kremlev told IBA website in Istanbul after the inspection of facilities that will host the event.

No female boxer from Africa has ever reached the finals since the inception of the World Women Boxing Championships in 2001.

Commonwealth Games flyweight bronze medallist Christine Ongare, Africahristine Ongare Zone Three light heavyweight gold medalist Elizabeth Andiego and light middleweight silver medalist Lorna Kusa join the long list of experienced African boxers expected to carry the hopes of the continent to the medal bracket.