'Hit Squad' set to hit camp, in preparation for continental championships

The national boxing team ‘Hit Squad’ will tomorrow start a non-residential camp at the VMX gym at the Village Market, Nairobi to prepare for the first African men's and women's championships that will be held from July 25 to August 6 in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

The camp comes after the Boxing Federation of Kenya held the National qualifier for the Africa Olympic qualifiers that will be staged in Dakar, Senegal later this year. The National qualifiers were held at Charter Hall, Nairobi over the weekend where the national team coaches led by Benjamin Musa selected a provincial squad.

"After the weekend competition, we gave our boxers a few days off, but this Wednesday they will enter non-residential camp at the BMX hall at Village Market. We will start with strength and conditioning exercises and the camp will not break until we go to the African championship later this month in Cameroon,” he said.

“This competition will be very important for us because it will help us to gauge our strength against opponents we will meet in September in the Olympic qualifying tournament," Musa added.

According to Musa, all the finalists will make it to the final team for the Africa Olympic Qualifiers but they will be assessed at the non-residential training camp before they come up with the final squad.

During the National Olympic qualifiers, Shaffi Bakari of Kenya Police lost on a walkover to Samuel Njau of KDF, while Pauline Chege lost to Angeline Otieno of Nairobi on points while Hezron Maganga was beaten on points by KDF’s Peter Abuti.

Elsewhere Elizabeth Andiego beat Metrin Sagina of Vihiga, Boniface Mogunde emerged victorious against teammate Steve Olang on points as Christine Ongare defeated Anna Wanjiru of Kongowea on points while David Karanja saw off Kelvin Maina on points.

Hit Squad for Africa Olympic qualifiers 2023.

 *MEN*

1. David Karanja - 51Kgs

2. Samuel Njau - 57Kgs

3. Ethan Maina - 63.5Kgs

4.  Boniface Mogunde -71Kgs

5. Robert Okaka - 80Kgs

6. Peter Abuti - 92Kgs

7. Fredrick Ramogi - 92+ Kgs

  *WOMEN*

1 Christine Ongare- 50kgs

2. Amina Martha - 54Kgs

3. Angela Otieno - 57Kgs

4. Friza Anyango - 66Kgs

5. Elizabeth Andiego - 75Kgs

*MEN*

 *SPARRING PARTNERS*

Men

1. Kelvin Maina - 51Kgs

2. Shaffi Bakari - 57Kgs

3. Aloice Vincent -63.5

4. Steve Olang - 71 Kgs

5. Glensonton Agade -80Kgs

6. Hezron Maganga - 92Kgs

7. Joshua Clive - 63.5Kgs

8. Edwin Okong'o - 80Kgs

9. Abednego Kyalo -51Kgs

  *Women*

10. Ann Wanjiru - 50Kgs

11. Pauline   Chege - 57Kgs

12. Teresia Wanjiru - 66 Kgs