It will take ‘Hit Squad’ time to shine at championship -Musa

The national boxing team head coach Benjamin Musa believes it will take Kenya some time before it can win a medal at the world championship after failing in her latest bid.

Kenya’s women pugilists failed to hold their own with none of them sparkling in the ring at the concluded International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s World Boxing Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.

Speaking upon returning to the country, Musa hailed the government and National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) for having facilitated the team and made the trip possible.

The nation's hopes were pegged on boxer Elizabeth Adiego shining but she, too, like her compatriots, was knocked out. She fell to Turkey’s Guneri Elif in their light heavyweight fight in the quarter-finals in a championship that attracted 310 boxers from 72 nations.

Despite a formidable campaign during African Zone 3 Championship in Kinshasa, DR Congo when the team won 18 medals, the 10 female boxers who represented the country in Turkey exited the 12th edition without winning even a single bout.

Others who were part of the squad include Christine Ongare and Lorna Kusa.

Commonwealth Games flyweight bronze medallist Ongare failed in her bid against 2018 World Championship silver medallist Hanna Okhota of Ukraine, losing 5-0 points in the minimum-weight contest .

Africa Zone Three light middleweight silver medallist Kusa had no answer against Kazakhstan’s Valentina Khalzova, bringing to an end the journey of the top most experienced trio of Andiego, Ongare and Kusa who have previously participated in the global championship.

Other members in the squad included welterweight Everlyn Akinyi, flyweight Ann Wanjiru, bantamweight Alice Weiyego, featherweight Amina Martha, lightweight Stacy Ayoma, middleweight Elizabeth ‘Jaber’ Akinyi and light welterweight Teresia Wanjiru.

Africa was represented by 43 boxers from 12 countries, with Kenya leading with 10 boxers followed by South Africa (eight), Morocco(six), DR Congo (five), Algeria(four), with Egypt, Mozambique and Senegal having two each while Burundi, Cape Verde, Mali and Sierra Leone had one each.