In Summary
- Elizabeth Andiego secured gold at the Mandela Cup in Durban South Africa
- Friza Anyango Kenya’s welterweight champion ,faced disappointment after elimination in the semi finals
- Despite financial constraints limiting Kenyans representation,Andiegos victory highlights her determination as she aims for qualifications to the Paris 2024 Olympics
Elizabeth Andiego, the Kenyan silver medallist at the Africa Boxing Championships, clinched gold at the Mandela Cup boxing extravaganza in Durban, South Africa on Sunday night.
She defeated Rady Adosinda Gramane, representing Mozambique in previous international competitions, in a unanimous judges’ decision.
Adosinda, a tough opponent for Andiego, had previously represented Mozambique at both the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, and the 2018 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi, India.
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Friza Anyango knocked out
Andiego’s victory contrasts with the disappointment faced by Friza Anyango, the Kenya Defence Forces welterweight champion.
She was eliminated in the women’s welterweight semi-finals by Cape Verde’s Gomes Moreira.
Andiego’s win marks her first international competition since losing at the Olympics 1st World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio.
Despite this setback, she remains hopeful of qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The upcoming second World Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, from May 25 to June 2, 2024, offers her another chance.
Kenya’s representation at the Mandela Cup was limited to Andiego and Anyango due to financial constraints.
Initially planning to send 14 boxers, the Boxing Federation of Kenya could only secure two tickets for the event, which was originally scheduled for October 9-14 last year.
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However, Andiego’s triumph underscores the quality of Kenya’s boxing talent, even in the face of limited resources.
Andiego’s success serves as a testament to her dedication and skill as she continues to strive for excellence in the ring.
As she looks towards future competitions, her determination to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics remains unwavering.
With her impressive performance at the Mandela Cup, she has once again demonstrated her potential on the international stage.
