Boxer Elizabeth Andiego punches gold at Mandela Cup

Africa Boxing Championships silver medallist Elizabeth Andiego on Sunday night won a gold medal at the Mandela Cup boxing extravaganza held at the Durban International Convention Center in South Africa.

The 'Hit Squad' skipper defeated Rady Adosinda Gramane on unanimous judges’ decision. Adosinda was not an easy opponent for Andiego especially after she represented Mozambique at the 2018 Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast, Australia and the 2018 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships that was held in New Delhi, India.

Kenya was represented by only two boxers in South Africa - Andiego and Kenya Defence Forces welterweight champion Friza Anyango.

The outing was however not rosy for Anyango who was Wednesday night eliminated in the women’s welterweight semi-finals in what was her second major tournament this year, going down against Cape Verde’s Gomes Moreira.

Andiego is still hopeful of qualifying for Paris 2024 Olympics. The Sunady bout was her first international competition since her 5-0 Round of 32 loss to Lithuania’s Stonkute Gabriele at the Olympics 1st World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio.

The second World Qualification Tournament is scheduled for Bangkok, Thailand from May 25 - June 2 2024.

The Boxing Federation of Kenya had hinted at sending 14 boxers to the showpiece that had earlier been scheduled to run from October 9-14 last year but due to financial constraints, the federation only managed to secure two tickets for the annual event.