Kenya’s performance in the 2025 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships sees Pauline Chege and Lencer Akinyi eliminated in the Round of 16. Only Liz Andiego remains to compete in the quarterfinals, with potential for substantial prize money. Kenya’s history at the championships continues to be marked by challenges.
Kenya’s participation in the 2025 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships has faced significant setbacks, as Pauline Chege and Lencer Akinyi were eliminated in the Round of 16 in Serbia. Currently, the nation’s hopes depend solely on team captain Liz Andiego, who is set to compete in the quarterfinals.
During the fourth day of the championships, Chege and Akinyi experienced decisive defeats. Chege faced the seasoned Mijgona Samadova, a 2022 Asian Games bronze medalist, who was victorious through referee stoppage just into the second round. Akinyi’s loss was even swifter, as Dragana Jovanovic overwhelmed her, leading to a stoppage after just over a minute in the first round.
Both athletes had advanced to this stage by means of walkovers; Chege progressed after Bojana Gojkovic from Montenegro withdrew, while Akinyi benefited from Thandolwethu Mathiba’s absence. Their departures add to Kenya’s list of eliminations, which now includes six other fighters who have exited the tournament.
As only Liz Andiego remains in contention, the 38-year-old veteran will compete in her fifth World Championships. She received a bye to the quarterfinals, where she will face China’s Wang Xiaomeng, who won her Round of 16 bout. A potential victory for Andiego would guarantee her a minimum of $25,000 in prize money, with the overall competition offering a substantial prize pool.
This year marks Kenya’s fifth appearance at the championships, following previous participations in 2010, 2012, 2022, and 2023, with Christine Ongare being the only boxer from Kenya to achieve a non-walkover victory to date. Under tournament regulations, boxers must win at least one fight to be eligible for prize money and be under 41 years old.
The Kenyan delegation in Serbia is led by David Muhuhe, with Musa Benjamin as coach and Gathoni Kinyua serving as team manager. The championships are scheduled to conclude on March 16, 2025.
The ongoing 2025 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships have proven challenging for Kenya, marked by the eliminations of Pauline Chege and Lencer Akinyi. With only captain Liz Andiego remaining, the team’s hopes hinge on her performance in the upcoming quarterfinals. This championship presents a unique opportunity with significant prize money, yet Kenya’s past results highlight the difficulty of securing wins on the global stage.
Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke
