• Pauline Chege was the first Kenyan to take to the ring against Reyes Moreno Noshbet of Guatemala.
•Africa Boxing Championships silver medallist Elizabeth Andiego breezed through to the quarter-finals without throwing a punch.
Image: HANDOUT
Kenya's quest for medals got off to a bumpy start following the elimination of two boxers in the preliminary rounds of the IBA World Women's Boxing Championships in New Delhi, India on Thursday.
Pauline Chege was the first Kenyan to take to the ring against Reyes Moreno Noshbet of Guatemala. Unfortunately, her aspirations were nipped in the bud after her opponent sent her packing early in the competition.
"I was the first in the ring for Team Kenya and unfortunately the outcome was not what I expected," Njoroge said.
Chege, however, said she gleaned some crucial lessons from her disappointing attempt, insisting that she gave her best shot.
"I'm taking home many lessons because it is never too late to learn new ideas. I was confident in my game and I believe I gave my best."
Ann Wanjiru was the second Kenyan to take to the ring in the light flyweight preliminary bout against Helena Bagao of Mozambique. She too bade the tournament farewell after her opponent pummelled her to cruise into the next round.
"The game was fine but the results were not pleasant. Despite that, I believe I performed comparatively better than last year. I did not have any pressure during the game," Wanjiru said. Wanjiru attributed her loss to inexperience.
"I feel we need more exposure. She is more experienced than I am and has participated in more international games than I have. She is also a champ from a country that is well exposed," she added.
Amina Martha's bout wrapped up the day for Team Kenya when she took on Landaeta Johana Carolina of Venezuela in the round of 64, but No.24 bantamweight category.
Africa Boxing Championships silver medallist Elizabeth Andiego breezed through to the quarter-finals without throwing a punch.
Andiego and Morocco's Africa heavyweight champion Khadija Mardi were favoured by the draws conducted as the premier women's boxing extravaganza launched officially on Thursday.
Andiego will now take on the winner between Kazakhstan's Fariza Sholay and Leeann Boadram of Trinidad and Tobago in the light-heavyweight division. Kenya's light-middle Lorna Kusa, Mozambicans Alcinda Panguane and Rady Gramane, also got byes to the pre-quarters.
According to the schedule provided to the AFBC communication department by IBA Media, Christine Ongare will take on Tanzania's Rahma Maganga in the minimum weight.
Ongare beat Rahma in the East Africa Club Championships finals held in Dar-es-salaam earlier in the year. Light fly Veronica Mbithe will take on Colombia’s Valencia Victoria Lorena in the Round of 32 match-ups while Ann Wanjiru will face fellow African Bagao Helena of Mozambique in the opening round of the flyweight category.
Friza Anyango will mark her international debut against Algeria’s Khelif Imane in the first round of welterweight bouts. Africa Zone Three gold medalist Lorna Kusa will dare Colombia’s Vasquez Cortes Fernanda to an abrasive preliminary-round duel in the light middleweight last 16.
Kusa lost to Khalzova Valentine in the Round of 32 during the last edition. Stacy Ayoma will face Christina Chiper of Madagascar in the lightweight division while Elizabeth Akinyi will face Lin Chien-yu (TPE) in the middleweight category on Friday.
The premier women's boxing competition, which is being held in India for the third time since its inception, has attracted 324 boxers from 65 countries.