Kenyan boxers chase more medals at Zone 3 Championships

The Kenya national boxing team ‘Hit Squad’ will return to the ring on Saturday night to hunt for more medals in six finals at the ongoing Africa Zone 3 Championship in Kinshasa, DR Congo.

Kenya had ten out of her 22 boxers dumped at their first call on the ring but shook off that slow start Friday to harvest seven medals – two gold, two silver and three bronze – at the regional competition.

Light-welterweight boxer Teresiah Wanjiru won Kenya's first gold medal after defeating DRC's Raissa Djofa with flyweight boxer David Karanja bagging the other when he floored DRC's Bakora Kalongo.

Kenya's two silvers medals came through losers in the finals where limping middleweight pugilist Elizabeth Akinyi and light-welter Victor Odhiambo who lost against three-time olympian Colin Luis of Mauritius.

Super-heavy weight Elly Ajowi, Kenya's sole gold medallist in last year's Zone 3 settled for bronze after losing on points 5-0 to DRC's Umaga Bokala in the semis.

Boniface Mugunde also won a bronze medal after losing in the semi-final to the gold medal winner Steve Kulenguluka of DRC.

Commander and captain of the team Nick Okoth won a bronze medal after losing his semi-final bout to the gold medal winner Alain Sangue of Cameroon.

Kenya is expected to win more medals in today's second and last session of the finals.

The six Kenyans in action are Christine Ongare, Stacy Ayoma, Lorna Kusa, Everlyn Akinyi, Shaffi Bakari and Samuel Njau.