Moses Mathenge, Joshua Ndere lead Kenyan boxers in Delhi
Veteran fighters Moses Mathenge and Joshua Ndere will lead Kenya's campaign in the boxing competition in the upcoming Commonwealth Games in India. Both boxers won bronze medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and are rearing to improve their performances.
Mathenge campaigns in the light welterweight division while Ndere will see action in the light heavyweight category.
The other members of the team are light flyweight Peter Mungai, flyweight Benson Gicharu, bantamweight Nick Okoth, lightweight Joseph Njogu, welterweight Rayton Okwiri, middleweight d**k Ombaka, heavyweight Elly Ajoy and super heavyweight Michael Okwisi.
Patrick Waweru is the head coach while Albert Matito is the team manager. The two supervise the team's daily training at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani. Aside from focusing on their individual skills and sizing up their opponents, the national
boxers are also familiarising themselves with the computerised scoring system that will be used in the Games.
In preparation for the event, which will be held in New Delhi from October 3-14, the boxers took part in two major international tournaments this year. They competed at the AIBA World Championships in Milan, Italy, and the Commonwealth Championships in India.
The Kenyans, however, failed to bring home any medals from the two meets. The national boxing team is scheduled to leave for Delhi on three separate flights.
Although known for their middle and long distance runners, Kenya has also produced several world-class boxers. Among them were Robert Wangila and Samuel Mbugua. Wangila made history at the 1988 Seoul Olympics when he won a gold medal in the welterweight
division. He knocked out Frenchman Laurent Boudouani in the second round of their final bout to become the first African boxer to win an Olympic gold medal. Wangila is also the first and only Kenyan athlete to win an Olympic gold outside of athletics. He
died in 1994 due to injuries sustained in a professional fight against David Gonzales in Las Vegas. Mbugua captured a bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
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