Andiego, Ongare lead Hit Squad at African Championships

Hit Squad captain Elizabeth Andiego and minimumweight fighter Christine Ongare will begin their 2023 Africa Boxing Championship in the semis following the draw held today in Yaounde, Cameron.

Andiego, who became first female to captain a Kenyan boxing team, will begin her camapign against Moroccan world champion Khadija El Mardi.

Ongare, a former Commonwealth bronze medalist, takes on another Moroccan Yasmine Moutaqui who won bronze at the 2023 world championships.

Kenya is being represented by a team of 15 fighters - 10 men and five women - and seven quarter finalists have also been confirmed among them ahead of the continental event that begins on Sunday.

That contingent that is led by coach coach Benjamin Musa assisted by David Munuhe includes six debutants, five men and one woman.

The lucrative event will see gold medalists walk away with 2.1 million shillings in prize money. The silver and bronze place finishers will bag 1.4 million and 700,000 shillings respectively.

HIT SQUAD: 1. 48kgs: Abednego Kyalo; 51kgs: David Karanja; 54kg: Shaffi Bakari; 56kg: Samuel Njau; 60kg: Ethan Maina; 63.5kg: Antony Maina; 71kg:Boniface Mugunde; 80kgs: Robert Okaka; 92kg: Peter Abuti; 92+kgs Fredrick Ramogi; Women: 48kg: Christine Ongare; 54kg:  Amina Martha; 63.5kg: Teresia Wanjiru; 66kgs: Friza Anyango; 81kg: Elizabeth Andiego.