Kenya’s struggles at the 2025 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships intensified as Pauline Chege and Lencer Akinyi were eliminated in the Round of 16, leaving only Liz Andiego as the nation’s sole representative. Andiego, competing in her fifth World Championships, received a bye to the quarterfinals, where she will face Wang Xiaomeng of China. The overall prize pool for the tournament is $2.88 million.
Kenya faced significant challenges at the 2025 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, with Pauline Chege and Lencer Akinyi being eliminated in the Round of 16 in Serbia. This leaves team captain Liz Andiego as Kenya’s sole hope for advancement in the competition, set to participate in the quarterfinals.
During the tournament’s fourth day, Chege, competing against Mijgona Samadova—a 2022 Asian Games bronze medalist—was defeated via referee stoppage 66 seconds into the second round. The judges had scored the bout in Samadova’s favor, reflecting a dominant performance.
Akinyi, making her debut in the World Championships, faced a more abrupt exit. She was overwhelmed by Dragana Jovanovic, resulting in the referee halting the match just 102 seconds into the first round. Both fighters entered the Round of 16 after advancing due to walkovers in earlier rounds.
The eliminations of Chege and Akinyi add to Kenya’s extensive list of departures, which includes Amina Martha Faki, Cynthia Mwai, Emily Juma, Friza Anyango, and Veronica Mbithe. With only Andiego remaining from the initial roster of eight, the team faces an uphill battle.
At 38 years old, Andiego is competing in her fifth World Championships. She qualified for the light-heavyweight quarterfinals via a bye and will confront China’s Wang Xiaomeng, who emerged victorious in her Round of 16 match. A win for Andiego would secure her a minimum of $25,000 in prize money.
The total prize pool for the competition stands at $2.88 million, with significant rewards allocated for various placements. Historically, Kenya has participated in these championships five times, with Christine Ongare being the only boxer from the nation to achieve a non-walkover victory in 2023.
According to the regulations, boxers must win at least one bout to qualify for prize money, and competitors must be younger than 41 years old. Kenya’s delegation includes David Muhuhe, the leader of delegation, coach Musa Benjamin, and team manager Gathoni Kinyua. The competition will conclude on March 16, 2025.
In summary, Kenya’s participation in the 2025 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships has been marked by early eliminations, leaving only team captain Liz Andiego in contention. The team faced significant setbacks, highlighting the challenges faced in international competitions. With a substantial prize pool and a solitary competitor remaining, Andiego’s upcoming quarterfinal match will be pivotal for Kenya.
Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke
