Kenya’s ‘Hit Squad’ to arrive on Monday from Russia trip

The national boxing team ‘Hit Squad’ will return home from Russia with three trophies and two bronze medals following the conclusion of the Konstatin Korotkov International Boxing Championship.

Kenya finished the tournament as the second best ranked African team behind Morocco while Kenyan Nelson Otieno also earned recognition for being among the competition’s best referees.

He was the only technical official from Africa who was appointed to officiate in the nine-day tournament which was also attended by Moroccan and Algerian fighters.

Former African lightweight champion Nick ‘Commander’ Okoth won bronze and Elly Ajowi also earned similar honours in the super heavyweight category.

Commonwealth Games flyweight (48kg) bronze medalist Christine Ongare finished fifth alongside national welterweight (69kg) champion Elizabeth Akinyi after all of them lost in their preliminary rounds.

Head Coach Musa Benjamin acknowledged the superiority of their opponents and picked positives as Kenya continues to prepare for the Olympics in Tokyo Japan later this year.

The team which comprised of only boxers who have qualified for the coming Olympics was also accompanied by National Olympic Committee – Kenya, (NOCK) treasurer Anthony Kariuki who was the leader of the delegation.

Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK) Competitions’ Secretary John Waweru has written to the Kenyan Government on their intention to travel to the Philippines upon their return from Russia.

The team will arrive back home on Monday, May 17.