Commonwealth Games in Glascow: Two more boxers book glascow tickets

By ERICK OCHIENG’

Victor Onyango (in red) and Dennis Okoth of Police in a past light welter National Open Boxing Championship at Nakuru Madison Square Garden. [PHOTO: BONIFACE THUKU/ STANDARD]

Two more boxers qualified for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glascow, Scotland without breaking a sweat after their opponents failed the weight test at the Boxing Association of Kenya (BAK) national trials at the Kaloleni Social Hall in Nairobi yesterday.

Christine Ongare  of Nairobi County Boxing Association (NCBA) clinched the flyweight ticket to the Commonwealth Games after Ruth Odongo from Kisumu was found to be excess with two kilogrammes during weighing-in.

“It’s sad that I have lost this opportunity after travelling all the way from Kisumu, it meant a lot to me but there is nothing I can do, my hope is now on other future  tournaments,” said dejected Odongo.

Ongare who was elated with the easy victory pledged to step up her training ahead of the games for better performance. “This will be my first time and I am hoping I will come out with a medal at the Club Games,” said Ongare.

Lona Kusa from NCBA also won her lightweight category without pulling a punch after Mary Wamboi of Nakuru was  found overweight with two kilos.

Kusa and Ongare now joins Olympian Elizabeth Andiego who edged out her Nairobi teammate Elizabeth Oluoch in the middleweight contest to qualify for London.

Charles Okoth of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) was the first boxer to win a ticket without breaking a sweat in heavyweight on Thursday at the trials after his opponent, Daniel Shisia of Prisons swapped weights to the super heavy. In other semi final results, Elly Ajowi of Police knocked out Fredrick Onyango of KDF in the second round of the light heavy category. Joseph Njogu of Prisons also won with a similar margin in light weight.

Victor Onyango of Police won welterweight 2-1 against Silas Masake to make it to the yesterday’s finals. Patrick Maina of Nakuru lost 2-1 to David Njuguna of Police in middleweight; Peter Opudi of Police also lost 2-1 to Michael Okwisia of KDF in super heavy semis.

Semi final winner of fly weight contest was Simon Mulinge of KDF who won 3-0 against Maurice Ochieng of Police. Issac Meja of NCBA also won in his category 3-0 against Harrison Mathuku of Prisons.

Bak chairman John Kameta explained it was hard for the federation to get competent women boxers for the competition due to stigma now attached to boxing following the predicament of former world women middleweight champion Conjestina Achieng two years ago.

“So many parents are discouraging their girls from boxing and also women boxer’s efforts are thwarted in the game with pregnancies, single parenting and other retrogressive societal vices,” said Kameta, who is challenging corporates to come on board and sponsor women boxers.

But Bak officials were happy with the turnout at Kaloleni saying it was an indicator of how the game is getting popular and taking strides and shape in the society.

“So far no complaints on the trials and this has been possible by the engagement of professional officials to officiate the bouts,” Kameta said.  ––[e-mail]