Former Commonwealth Games Welterweight bronze medalist Nick Okoth and 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Christine Ongare will lead Kenyan boxing team to the forthcoming Africa Games championships in Casablanca, Morocco next month.
Okothwho defended his title won bronze at the 2010 Games in New Delhi, India while Ongare won bronze at the 2019 Games in Gold Coast, Australia, were picked among the 25 provisional boxers to represent Kenya during the Boxing Federation of Kenya (BFK) National League at Uwanja Wa Mbuzi Joho Stadium in Kongowea Mombasa.
The 36 year old has four years of competition where a maximum age of 40 years is the maximum age to fight in amateur ranks as stipulated by world governing body, AIBA competition rules.
Okoth was in the 2008 Beijing Olympian was among the 25 boxers picked after the conclusion of the third leg of the
Ongare and Shaffi Bakari of Police who will be making back to back appearances at the games having been a member of the team in Brazzaville and so is light welterweight Victor Odhiambo of KDF.
Ongare became the first women in the history of Kenyan boxing to win a medal following her fairy tale performance in Gold Coast.
Bakari has since moved a berth up from light flyweight to flyweight after AIBA reduced men’s slots at the Olympic Games from 10 to 8 and increased women’s divisions from three to five.
Hezron Maganga of KDF and his counterpart Humphrey Ochieng aka Jakababa also made the team and will fight for the final light heavyweight slot.
Kenya team to All African Games team
Men
Shaffi Bakari, Abednego Kyalo 49kg, Martin Oduor-56kg, Martin Maina-49kg, Mohammed Ali-56kg, Dennis Muthama-56kg, Ethan Maina-60kg, Nick Okoth-60kg, Victor Odhiambo -64kg, Boniface Mugunde -69kg, Edwin Okongo -75kg, George Cosby -75kg, Hezron Maganga-81kg, Humphrey Ochieng -81kg, Elly Ajowi -91kg, Fredrick Ramogi -91+KGU, Stanley Ogutu 64kg
Ladies
Christine Ongare-48kg, Veronica Mbithe-48kg, Alice Waiyego-54kg, Flavian Auma- 51kg, Evelyn Akinyi -64kg, Lorna Kusa -69kg, Elizabeth Andiego -75kg, Elizabeth Akinyi -75kg, Lilian Achieng -81kg