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The Nairobian

Well-timed boost: Kenya’s Kyalo and Kinuthia land AIBA scholarship

Football

By -ERNEST NDUNDA | Mar 12, 2014

BY ERNEST NDUNDA

Simon Kinuthia of Mombasa’s African Warriors Club (left), fights Shaban Ali during the Mombasa County Interclub boxing championships. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

The good times continue to roll for the local boxing scene after International Boxing Association (AIBA) offered scholarships to two youthful boxers ahead of the Youth Olympics.

Boxing Association of Kenya President John Kameta confirmed yesterday that Simon Kinuthia of Mombasa’s African Warriors Club and Abednego Kyalo of Nairobi’s Dallas Club will jet out of the country next week for a three-week training in Sofia, Bulgaria.

“The world body has recognised Kenya’s commitment in promoting boxing and offered sponsorship for the two youth boxers and a coach before the start of the 2014 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships to be hosted by the city of Sofia, Bulgaria, from April 10 to 20,” Kameta told FeverPitch, yesterday.

The competition will be held at the Armeec Arena, and will serve as the sole Qualifying Event for the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games scheduled for August 16-28.

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The two Kenyans to be accompanied by coach Mike Davis of Mbaraki Amateur Boxing Club, will be joined later by seven more junior boxers for the April championships.

Kameta said the boxers will have an opportunity to enjoy the best training technology, to boost they morale as they prepare for the Bulgaria championships.

The Kenyan juniors will compete in ten weight categories: 46kg-49kg, 52kg, 56kg, 60kg, 64kg, 69kg, 75kg, 81kg, 91kg, 91+kg.

Kameta said the IABA offer comes a week after two senior Kenyan boxers Rayton Okwiri and Benson Gicharu signed a two-year contract with the world body for series of professional boxing championships.

Okwiri and Gicharu were honoured by AIBA following their excellent performances during the World Boxing Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Taking the right path

“Boxing is taking the right path and we need support from all quarters for us to realise our pledges to Kenyans. This is happening due to good leadership,” said Kameta.

He said Mauritius Boxing Association has also invited seven local boxers for further training from March 19-27.

“Kenyan boxers are in high demand and we appreciate this,” said Kameta.

The Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games officially known as II Summer Youth Olympic Games, will encompass all 28 sports on the Olympic programme and will be held from August 16th to 28th.

The Nanjing Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee will work together with the International Olympic Committee to attract the best young athletes from around the world to compete at the highest level.

Off the field of play, an integrated culture and education programme will focus on discussions about education, Olympic values, social challenges, and cultural diversity. The Youth Olympic Games aims to spread the Olympic spirit and encourage sport participation.

Sixty two Youth Boxers (50 men and 12 women) who will qualify through the AIBA Youth World Boxing in Sofia 2014 will compete in the second edition of the Youth Olympic Games.

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