•She was among the Kenyan trio that romped into the finals of the premier annual boxing extravaganza.
•Andiego thumped Mkateko Sithole of South Africa on Thursday on her way to the finals.
Image: HANDOUT
Hit Squad deputy captain, Elizabeth Andiego grabbed the silver at the Africa Boxing Championship in Maputo, Mozambique on Saturday.
Andiego, who lost to Moroccan Mardi Khadija in the finals of the women's heavyweight division, also bagged Sh602,000 ($5000) set aside for the tournament's runners-up.
She was among the Kenyan trio that romped into the finals of the premier annual boxing extravaganza.
Andiego thumped Mkateko Sithole of South Africa on Thursday on her way to the finals. Featherweight Samuel Njau and captain Nick Okoth also made it to the final.
Boxing Federation of Kenya communications director, Duncan Kuria said Andiego was forced to switch to the heavyweight division hours before the semis.
“Elizabeth Andiego was supposed to fight in the light heavyweight category but she was the only entry in that category and therefore she could not get a medal,” Kuria said.
“She had to add 5kgs in three days to participate in the heavyweight semi-final.”
This is Andiego's second medal coming hot on the heels of the gold she bagged at the Africa Zone III Championship in Kinshasa, Congo in March.
Andiego, 35, pulverized Tekasala Malewu of the Democratic Republic of Congo on her way to the momentous glory. She has attributed her meteoric rise to proper preparation and hard work.
Before her departure to Maputo, Andiego said she believed the experience she gleaned from the Kinshasa trip had set her on course for a successful medal hunt in future events.
The seasoned pugilist is elated to have marked her return to the ring in style after a past harrowing procedure conducted on her left leg limited her prowess in the ring.
The hard-hitting boxer escaped death by a whisker in 2015 when she was caught up in a grisly road accident while riding on a motorbike.
Edited by Tony Mballa