Commonwealth games in Gold Coast: Kenyan boxer books quarters slot after victory, Owuor also floors Tanzania’s Kidunda to book slot in round of 16

Boxing Scotland's Scott Forrest (in red) fights against Kenya's Elly Ochola (in blue) during the men’s heavy (91Kg) category preliminary boxing match during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games at the Oxenford Studios venue in Gold Coast on April 6, 2018. / AFP PHOTO

Bad day for Ajowi in boxing as Brunlenher find going tough in swimming

Kenyan boxer Shaffi Hassan made it to the quarter-finals in the light-fly category when he beat Namibia's Matias Hamunyela 3-2 in the third day of the Commonwealth games in Gold Coast Australia yesterday.

Hassan narrowly trailed in the first round where the five judges awarded his opponent 48 points while he got 47.

He then recovered in the second round where he collected 49 points to 46 for his opponent.

Kenya's Elly Ochola (blue) gets punched by Scotland's Scott Forrest (red) during the men’s heavy (91Kg) category preliminary boxing match during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games at the Oxenford Studios venue in Gold Coast on April 6, 2018. / AFP PHOTO
 

In the last round, Hassan also outpointed his opponent to emerge overall winner and get closer to the medal bracket.

Edwin Owuor edged out Tanzanian Selemani Kidunda in the middleweight category to qualify for the pre-quarter finals.

The Kenyan seemed to have an easy time right from the first round where all the five judges scored in his favour.

The first, second, third and fourth judges gave Owuor 10 points against nine in the first round while the fifth judge gave the Kenyan 10 points and eight points to his opponent.

The Tanzanian looked to be recovering in the second round where he got ten points from the first three judges all of whom gave Owuor nine points.

The fourth judge gave both boxers nine points each while the fifth judge gave Owuor ten points against his opponents nine.

Kidunda dominated in the third round where he managed 58 points against 45 for the Kenyan who was declared winner on 3-2.

In the heavy-weight category, Elly Ajowi was floored by Scott Forrest from Scotland.

The Kenyan had no chance at all in the fight where the judges were unanimous.

In swimming, Maria Brunlenher failed to make it to the finals of the women’s 50m free style after finishing eighth in the first semi-final. The Kenyan clocked 26.43. The race was won by Australian Shayna Jack in 24.63. Taylor Rack from Canada was second after clocking 24.72 while Anna Hopkin from England was third in a time of 25.38.

Brunlehner had clocked 26.70 seconds to qualify for the semi-finals.  This made her the first Kenyan woman to ever qualify for the semi-finals at the Commonwealth Games.

Emily Muteti, another Kenyan, fell at the quarter-finals after she clocked 27.14.

In squash, Khaaliqa Nimji qualified for the semi-finals of the plate after edging out Faizar Zafar from Pakistan 3-0 (11-9, 11-8, 11-8).

In the quarters, Nimji eliminated Fiji’s Alison Mua 3-0 (11-7, 11-2, 11-5).

Hardeep Reel made it to the plate quarter-finals after being awarded a walk-over because his opponent Jacob Kelly from Cayman Island failed to turn up.

Winny Langat finished 14th in the women’s weight-lifting58kg category.

She managed a total lift of 135kg. She first lifted 60kg but failed on two attempts to lift 65kg. Her first attempt to lift 75kg failed but she managed in the second attempt.

Australian Tia-Clare Toomey won gold in this category. Tali Darsigny also from Australia was second while Jenly Wini from Solomon Islands won bronze.

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