Kenya leads the charge with four boxers in Africa Championships semis
By Rama Mohammed |
Kenya has made a strong start at the Africa Elite Men and Women Championships in Kinshasa, with four boxers advancing directly to the semi-finals and securing at least bronze medals. The draws, conducted on October 18, handed byes to seven boxers from Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, and Ethiopia, allowing them to progress without stepping into the ring yet.
Kenya, alongside other East African nations, has seen a successful beginning at the Africa Elite Men and Women Championships in Kinshasa. Following the draws held on October 18, a total of seven boxers from Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, and Ethiopia have advanced straight to the semi-finals after receiving byes.
Kenya's quartet of semi-finalists includes bantamweight Amina Martha, light-heavyweight Elizabeth Andiego, flyweight Abednego Kyalo, and super-heavyweight Clinton Macharia. With their spots in the semi-finals confirmed, each boxer is already assured of a bronze medal, setting up a promising outcome for the team.
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Tanzania, Burundi, and Ethiopia also celebrated victories in the draw. Tanzania's light-welterweight Najma Mohammed, Burundi's light-middleweight Nestor Nduwarugira, and Ethiopia's bantamweight Roman Assefa each secured their places in the last four.
In her upcoming bout, Amina Martha will face the winner of the quarter-final between Tanzania's Zulfa Macho and DR Congo's Merveille Bisambu. Roman Assefa, meanwhile, will meet either defending champion Widad Bertal of Morocco or Madagascar's Harilala Ranaivo.
Elizabeth Andiego, who boasts silver and bronze medals from previous Africa Championships, will take on DR Congo's silver medallist from Yaoundé, Marie-Joelle Mwika. The victor from this clash will go up against Morocco's Hasna Larti, who has automatically qualified for the final in her international debut thanks to a bye.
In other semi-final action, Tanzania's Najma Mohammed will face Morocco's Douvaa Zaki, while Burundi's Nestor Nduwarugira awaits the winner of the quarter-final match between Senegal's Allassane Ba and Congo's Ngamissengue Makavissa.
Kenya’s flyweight contender, Abednego Kyalo, will compete against either Cameroon's bronze medallist from Yaoundé, Mouhaman Issouhou, or Mandela Cup champion Valerie Fabrice of Mauritius. Super-heavyweight Clinton Macharia, making his international debut, is set to battle Angola's Luvo Jordilson for a spot in the final, with a bronze already secured.
Additionally, five female boxers have earned direct passage to the finals due to the smaller number of competitors in their weight categories. This allows them to cheer on their teammates until they enter the ring next Friday and Saturday to vie for gold or silver. Among them are DR Congo's featherweight Ruth Yanfu, DR Congo's Brigitte Mbabi, Senegal's Cheikh Awa Mbaye, and Morocco's Noura Mesmaoui and Hasna Larti.
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