In Nis, Serbia
Kenya’s women boxers will launch their International Women’s Day celebrations in the boxing ring some 8,204 kilometres away from home in the historic city of Nis in southern Serbia this weekend.
They are among over 500 fighters from 40 nations lined up for the International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s World Championships that throw off on Sunday and run until March 16 at the Cair Sports Centre in Serbia’s third-largest city.
The squad landed in Serbia -- one of the breakaway republics from the former, powerful nation of Yugoslavia – on Friday afternoon, having flown in via Dubai, with delegation leader David Munuhe and coach Musa Benjamin upbeat that they will prove a thing or two in Nis despite having to endure the less than ideal non-residential training.
The team squad in Serbia is light flyweight Veronica Mbithe, flyweight Lencer Akinyi, bantamweight Amina Martha, featherweight Pauline Chege, lightweight Emily Juma, light-welterweight Cynthia Mwai, welterweight Friza Anyango and light-heavyweight Liz Andiego, the most (captain).
After arriving at Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport just after midday, the travel-weary Kenyan squad, joined by other fighters from Mexico and Ethiopia, took the bus for a two-and-a-half hour journey to city of Nis, the competition venue.
The Belgrade airport is named after Nikola Tesla, a Serbian-American engineer celebrated for his thinking that bore the “alternative currency” (AC) electricity supply system.
The IBA – that’s been in the ring for supremacy of global boxing with rival World Boxing -- is out to flex its muscle by hosting a “generous” championship here.
Winners take home an unprecedented $100,000 (Sh13 million) each from the total prize purse of $2.88 million (Sh361 million) to be shared between gold, silver and bronze medallists as well as fifth-placed boxers.
Silver medallists will take home $50,000 (Sh6.4 million), bronze medallists $25,000 (Sh3.2 million) while boxers finishing fifth will bank $10,000 (Sh1.3 million) each.
“To be eligible for prize money, an athlete must win at least one bout,” the IBA explained in their pre-tournament brief.
“Prize money will not be awarded if only one athlete competes in a weight category. Medallists winning by walkover will receive prize money while medallists without a bout or no wins will not receive prize money.”
The official opening ceremony will held at the Cair Sportski Centre from 7pm local time (9pm Kenyan time) on Saturday. The boxing sessions begin at 2pm (local time) on Sunday.
Sponsorless “Team Kenya” have been training for the last couple of weeks under limiting conditions at the Mathare Police Pavilion, having to share a ring and punching bag, despite their rich potential.
Their trip to Belgrade has been sponsored by the government through the Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund.
“It has been tough, but we are grateful that the government eventually came through for us and we have been able to travel,” Munuhe, who was re-elected last week as Boxing Federation of Kenya Secretary-General, said upon arrival in Belgrade.
“The journey here has been long but we are grateful for the safe arrival… the weather here is not as cold as we thought it would be so it’s a perfect situation.”
Coach Musa Benjamin said he is happy with the condition of his fighters despite having to go through non-residential training.
“The fitness levels are good… it’s a pity that we had non-residential training which means that we could not have all three daily sessions as we would have had we been in residential training.
“We were basically working in tactics in the non-residential training and we shall make do with what we have,” the experienced coach said.
IBA President, Russia’s Umar Kremlev remained positive that his federation would stage a great tournament.
“In my capacity as President of IBA, I am dedicated to ensuring that the competitions are run with the utmost professionalism and integrity,” he said in his pre-tournament message.
“We are delighted to work hand in hand with the Serbian Boxing Federation, Local Organizing Committee and Serbian government to deliver an exceptional experience for all participants and attendees at this flagship event,” he added.
Nenad Borovcanin, the President of the Serbian Boxing Federation said they had pulled out all stops to stage a memorable championship.
