Kenya’s boxing team faces significant setbacks at the 2025 IBA Women’s World Championships as Pauline Chege and Lencer Akinyi were eliminated. Only team captain Liz Andiego remains, competing in the quarterfinals. The competition concludes on March 16, 2025, with prize money at stake for successful competitors.
Kenya’s performance at the 2025 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships has deteriorated as Pauline Chege and Lencer Akinyi were eliminated in the Round of 16 in Serbia. The only remaining fighter from the country is team captain Liz Andiego, who is slated to compete in the quarterfinals.
On day four of the championship, Chege and Akinyi faced tough opponents. Chege lost to Mijgona Samadova of Uzbekistan, who dominated the match, leading to a stoppage by the referee in the second round. The judges scored the bout in favor of Samadova (10-9, 10-9, 10-9, 10-8, 10-9).
Akinyi’s match was shorter, ending at just 102 seconds into the first round. She was overwhelmed by Serbian fighter Dragana Jovanovic, prompting the referee to stop the bout due to the onslaught. Both Chege and Akinyi progressed to this stage via walkovers in earlier rounds.
With the eliminations of Chege and Akinyi, Kenya faces increasing challenges as seven out of eight of its fighters have been knocked out, including Amina Martha Faki and others in various weight classes.
Liz Andiego, aged 38 and competing in her fifth World Championship, remains Kenya’s last hope. She has advanced directly to the light-heavyweight quarterfinals after receiving a bye and will face China’s Wang Xiaomeng. A win for Andiego would ensure a minimum prize of $25,000, with the total competition prize pool amounting to $2.88 million.
This marks Kenya’s fifth appearance at the championships, where Christine Ongare is noted as the only Kenyan to have secured a non-walkover victory in prior events. Prize money eligibility requires fighters to win at least one bout, and competitors must be under 41 years old.
Kenya’s delegation to Serbia includes leader David Muhuhe, coach Musa Benjamin, and team manager Gathoni Kinyua. The championship is set to conclude on March 16, 2025.
Kenya faces significant challenges at the 2025 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, with the elimination of Chege and Akinyi leaving only Liz Andiego in competition. After several defeats, Andiego’s upcoming quarterfinal bout holds the country’s hopes for success and potential prize earnings. The overall performance reflects Kenya’s historic struggles at this event, emphasizing the need for strategic improvements moving forward.
Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke
