Chege, Mwai have it easy, sail to round 16 of WBC without breaking a sweat

Kenya’s pugilists Pauline Chege Wandia and Cynthia Mwai Mwihaki have received automatic progression to 2025 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships round of 16, after their opponents were ruled out of the tournament.

Pauline was set to square off with Montenegro's Gojkovic Bojana in the featherweight (54-57kg) round of 32, while Cynthia was primed for a fight with South Africa's Mathiba Thandolwethu in the light-welterweight (60-63kg).

The announcement has been well received in Kenya’s camp, even as Team Kenya continues with her charge for medals at the 2025 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Nis, Serbia.

While it was good news for the duo, Veronica Mbithe's campaign came to an abrupt halt. The 29-year-old KDF corporal fought bravely but fell to Kazakhstan’s Alua Balkibekova in the light-flyweight (48-50kg) round of 32, losing by unanimous decision.

With Mbithe out, Kenya still has seven boxers fighting for glory at the 14th edition of the championships, which has attracted over 500 fighters from 40 nations.

Among those still in the hunt are seasoned Liz Andiego (light-heavyweight, 75-81kg), Amina Martha Faki (bantamweight), Friza Anyango, Emily Juma (lightweight), and Lencer Akinyi (flyweight).