Elizabeth Andiego’s controversial referee-stopped loss in the quarterfinals marked the end of Kenya’s campaign at the 2025 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, contributing to a winless record for the team. The exit sparked protests and highlights the need for reflection ahead of upcoming competitions, particularly with the next event scheduled for 2027.
The 2025 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships concluded disappointing for Kenya after Elizabeth Andiego faced a contentious referee stoppage, eliminating her in the quarterfinals against China’s Wang Xiaomeng. This result confirms Kenya’s winless campaign in Nis, Serbia, leading to critical reflections for the nation’s boxing community ahead of future competitions.
Elizabeth Andiego, at 38, lost her lightweight quarterfinal to 23-year-old Wang Xiaomeng through controversial referee intervention. After advancing with a bye, Andiego started strong, connecting effectively in the first seconds, but eventually lost the round, with all judges awarding it to Wang.
Struggling in the second round due to a holding penalty, Andiego fought hard but was stopped in the last moments when she couldn’t continue, leading to disputes from her coaching team who believed she could proceed. Despite her elimination, Andiego will receive $10,000, as the event’s organizers exempted winner conditions for prize eligibility.
This defeat culminated in a poor performance for Kenya, as all seven remaining boxers exited without a win. Veronica Mbithe, Amina Martha Faki, Cynthia Mwai, Emily Juma, and Friza Anyango also lost their respective matches to various international competitors, compounding the disappointment.
Only Christine Ongare has managed to secure a non-walkover win at an international event for Kenya, a rare achievement. As the boxing community reflects on these results, they face a critical period of reassessment leading into the next championships set for 2027 without a host city announced yet.
Kenya’s participation at the 2025 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships was marked by Elizabeth Andiego’s controversial exit, which highlighted a broader failure, as all competitors lost without a single victory. Now, the Kenyan boxing community faces necessary introspection to address and improve their strategies in preparation for future events, with the next championship scheduled for 2027.
Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke
