Hit Squad coach Benjamin Musa and Christine Ongare have criticised the referees in charge of the 2017 African bronze medallist following the boxer’s elimination at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.
Ongare’s medal aspirations were extinguished after falling to Turkey’s Erivan Barut in the pre-quarters at the K.D. Jadhav Indoor Hall on Tuesday.
The 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist made a frantic attempt to assert authority in the brief minimum-weight encounter that was characterised by a flurry of punches.
But Barut claimed a quick victory, stopping the Kenyan in the first round after an eight-standing count.
Musa termed the referee’s decision as ridiculous while Ongare claimed said she was robbed in broad daylight.
“It was unfair to have a count in the first round when my opponent had not even landed any effective punches,” Ongare bemoaned.
“I didn’t sustain any injury either and I was shocked by the decision because she was the one even pushing me.”
She thanked the home fans for their continued support, saying she had played her part in the competition.
“I know their expectations were high but it has come to a stage where I know everything happens for a reason and God’s timing is always the best. We mostly plan but God decides,” Andiego quipped.
Musa said another dubious officiating howler had unjustifiably eliminated a second Kenyan boxer from the tournament.
“The same Japanese referee who goofed during Friza Achieng’s game was at it again,” Musa stated. “Look at the video and see if she deserved a count, leave alone stoppage of the fight. No clean punch landed to warrant any count. I don’t understand if it’s incompetence at this level or not,” he added.
Musa also lashed out at the organisers for barring him from the ringside for the remainder of the tournament.
“To add salt to injury, I have been denied entry into the field of play for the remaining bout(s) for protesting again under no rule. It’s not just demoralising but devastating to the boxer, who had prepared for a long to perform better at this stage,” said Musa.
Ongare vanquished Tanzania’s Rahma Maganga on her way to the round of 16.
Barut will now flex muscles with Tokyo Olympian Yasmine Mouttaki, who beat Marta Lopez of Spain to claim a resounding 4-0 victory.
It was another painful exit for the Kenyans with 10 boxers having already booked early flights. Hit Squad captain Liz Andiego now shoulders all the hopes of an anxious nation, that fears a replication of past heartbreaks where all the boxers returned empty-handed.
Andiego, who got a bye in the preliminaries, will battle Fariza Shotley of Kazakhstan in the light heavyweight division on Wednesday.
