Wed, 31 Jan 2018 09:52:12 +0000
By MICHAEL MIYOBA
ZAMBIAN boxer David Mwale began his campaign at the Indian Open International boxing championship on a positive note after humiliating Kenyan pugilist Muhamad Ali 5-0 on unanimous point defeat in the flyweight category.
Mwale mesmerised his opponent with his dangerous punches which saw him through to the next round where he will fight for a quarter-final slot at the ongoing Indian tournament in New Delhi.
And the Zambia Boxing Federation (ZBF) said it was impressed with Mwale’s performance at the tournament.
ZBF general secretary Bright Chomba said Mwale’s victory was a big achievement as it gave him another opportunity to come back with a medal. Chomba noted that the local boxing governing body believed in the two representatives despite having struggled to prepare for the India outing due to lack of funds. He said because of financial challenges ZBF was forced to cut down on the number of boxers to travel to India.
“Mwale’s win is a milestone considering how we struggled to raise funds for the tournament forcing the federation to send only two boxers, Mwale and Violet Phiri,
“However we believe in the two boxers. They can come back with a medal we are just encouraging them to continue working hard because the nation is now relying on them after the elimination of the Chipolopolo Boys from the ongoing CHAN tournament in Morocco,” Chomba said.
Female boxer Phiri will fight Mira Marjjt of Finland in the lightweight bout.
Meanwhile Cameroon’s Clotilde Essaine packed too many guns for Panama’s Bylon Theyna to log a fluent 4-1 point’s win in the women’s middleweight category while Kenya’s Andiego Elizabeth Edhiam surprised powerhouse Mongolia’s Munkhbat Myagmarjargal in another middleweight bout.
Indian boxers began the tournament on a promising note, with five-time world champion Mary Kom and Commonwealth Games champion Manoj Kumar progressing to the next round.
Kom performed well in her bout against Varsha Choudhary in the light-fly category, beating her by a unanimous verdict.
