Achieng named best personality for December

Commonwealth Boxing Council Champion Sarah 'Angel of War' Achieng. [Courtesy, Standard]

Commonwealth Boxing Council champion Sarah 'Angel of War' Achieng' is the LG SJAK Sports Personality of Month of December 2022.

The pugilist earned the accolade after successfully defending her Commonwealth Super lightweight title against Zimbabwean challenger Chiedza Homakoma.

Achieng carried home an LG Nano Cell smart TV worth Sh100,000 courtesy of title sponsors LG East Africa.

The soft-spoken Achieng' was all smiles after winning the coveted monthly trophy, becoming the fourth boxer to win the trophy after former WBC champion Fatma Zarika, Judy Waguthii and Hit Squad mainstay Elly Ajowi.

"It's such a great feeling to win this award, more so, at a time I am preparing for my fight in Belgium next week. The award goes to show the hardwork and determination we have achieved as Boxgirls, and I hope to continue working hard in my fights to take my career to the next level," Achieng' said after receiving the award on Thursday at the LG Showroom in Nairobi.

"My Coach (Irie Priest Onalo) has been instrumental in our training and indeed mentoring countless other girls from Kariobangi to take up the sport of boxing. We owe him big tome," Achieng' said.

William Kamore, LG Content Manager on his part said: "It's been such a successful year for sports, as we have witnessed the diversity this award has showcased throughout the past season and we are looking forward to renewing the award."

The 35-year-old hard-hitting boxer beat top nominees among them chess national champion Mehul Gohil, Roslidah Sumwa of Tennis and Collins Ndunda who won three medals at the Mombasa international Tong-ll-Moo-Do Championship.

Achieng' knocked out Chiedza aka "Queen Tiger" in the eighth round at the Charter Hall, Nairobi to achieve the feat.

Achieng' will be vying for the World Boxing Association tittle in Belgium on February 4 in the super lightweight category against home girl Belgian Oshin Deriew.

Achieng' is a product of the revered Boxgirls Kenya, which is a community-based organisation set up to build the work started by coach Analo Anjere (popularly known as Priest).

Boxgirls has produced some of Kenya's most prolific lady boxers including trail-blazing Kenya amateur team star Elizabeth Andiego, who became the first Kenyan lady to play at the Olympic Games in London 2012.