Bakari becomes the second boxer to lose in Commonwealth Games
Boxing
By
Washington Onyango
| Aug 03, 2022
Africa Zone Three bantamweight gold medalist Hassan Shaffi Bakari became the second boxer to exit the 22nd edition of the Commonwealth Games at Nec Hall in Birmingham, England on Tuesday.
Bakari who gave a good account of himself in all three rounds was beaten by Rukmal Prasanna of Sri Lanka on a split points decision, an achievement that was better than that of the team captain Nick 'Commander' Okoth.
Okoth lost to Keevin Allicock of Guyana on a unanimous points decision, a move that must have sent head coach Musa Benjamin to the drawing board on how to salvage the pride of Kenyans who seems to be on the losing streak.
Despite losing, yesterday Bakari was on top of his game against the Sri Lankan opponent whom he gave as much as he received for the Kenyan pugilist to lose 3-2 points.
This means Prasanna won the hearts three judges while Bakari 8mressed on two of the judges.
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Bakari was awarded 29-28 by the first judge in all three rounds but lost by the same margin awarded by the second and third judges but the fourth judge gave him a win of 29-28 but lost 27-30 on points awarded by the fifth judge.
Bakari won the hearts of Korean judge Lee Hyeok and Ruhen Carl of Australia.
Judges Ngako Etsogile of Botswana, Kvasji Farhad of India and Edward Blanchard of Canada gave Sri Lankan the nod.
With that loss, the Kenyan is left with two boxers who are yet to take the ring.
They are Commonwealth Games flyweight bronze medallist Christine Ongare and Afric Zone Three Boxing Championships light heavyweight gold medallist Elizabeth Andiego who is the deputy team captain.
Both boxers have their matches fixed for this afternoon.
Ongare takes on Prianka Dhillon of Canada in the minimum weight (48kg) while Andiego meets Anne Parker of Australia in the middleweight (74kg).