Kenya’s boxing struggles are evident at the 2025 IBA Women’s World Championships, as only captain Liz Andiego remains after Chege and Akinyi exit in the Round of 16. Andiego has a chance to secure significant prize money in her upcoming match, while the elimination of seven fighters raises concerns about the country’s performance in the tournament.
Kenya’s performance at the 2025 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships faced setbacks as Pauline Chege and Lencer Akinyi were eliminated in the Round of 16 in Nis, Serbia. With team captain Liz Andiego as the only remaining competitor, the nation’s boxing aspirations hinge on her upcoming quarterfinal match.
Chege lost to 26-year-old Mijgona Samadova, a bronze medalist from the 2022 Asian Games, after being stopped by the referee 66 seconds into the second round. The judges clearly favored Samadova, scoring the bout decisively (10-9, 10-9, 10-9, 10-8, 10-9).
Akinyi, in her championship debut, faced a quick defeat against Serbian dragana Jovanovic, who pressed her with a barrage of punches, leading to a stoppage by the referee after just 102 seconds in the first round.
Both athletes reached this stage through walkovers, with Chege overcoming Montenegro’s Bojana Gojkovic and Akinyi advancing due to the withdrawal of Thandolwethu Mathiba from South Africa. Their losses compound Kenya’s challenges, following previous eliminations of other fighters including Amina Martha Faki and others.
As seven out of eight boxers from Kenya have been eliminated, Liz Andiego stands as the last hope. Competing in her fifth World Championship, Andiego has a bye to the light-heavyweight quarterfinals and will face China’s Wang Xiaomeng, who defeated her Round of 16 opponent.
A win in the quarterfinals would guarantee Andiego a prize of at least $25,000 from a total competition pool of $2.88 million; gold medalists will receive $100,000. Kenya is participating in its fifth championship event, having previously competed in 2010, 2012, 2022, and 2023.
Notably, Christine Ongare is the only Kenyan boxer to secure a non-walkover victory in 2023. Only boxers winning at least one bout qualify for prize money under tournament rules, and participants must be under the age of 41. The competition will conclude on March 16, 2025, with a delegation that includes leader David Muhuhe, coach Musa Benjamin, and manager Gathoni Kinyua.
Kenya’s boxing team faced significant challenges at the 2025 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, with only team captain Liz Andiego continuing in the competition after the eliminations of Chege and Akinyi. The disappointments highlight systemic issues within the team’s performance, as seven of eight competitors have exited. Andiego now carries the nation’s hopes as she approaches a pivotal bout that could secure her a substantial prize.
Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke
