Kenya’s Monica Mbithe was the first casualty at the ongoing IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Nis, Serbia.
The Kenya Defence Forces boxer lost to Kazakhstan’s Alua Balkibekova in the Light-Flyweight (48kg-50kg) in the first round of the championships with unanimous decision by referees.
However, today was a good day for Kenyans Pauline Chege Wandia and Cynthia Mwai Mwihaki who moved to the round of 16 without boxing following the exit of their opponents to get a bye.
Chege, who was to punch off with Montenegro’s Gojkovic Bojana in the featherweight (54-57kg) round of 32, Bojana did not show up.
Mwai on the other hand was to face off with South Africa’s Mathiba Thandolwethu in the light-welterweight (60-63kg).
Kenya has send seven boxers to the championships and the rest of boxers Liz Andiego (light-heavyweight, 75-81kg), Amina Martha Faki (bantamweight), Friza Anyango, Emily Juma (lightweight), and Lencer Akinyi (flyweight) have not stepped into the ring for the competitons.