African Games: Okong'o on a mission in big final as injured Martha claims historic bronze

Middleweight boxer Edwin Okong’o will seek to become the first Kenyan to win an African Games boxing gold medal since Suleiman Bilali did it in 2007, when he lines up in Friday’s men 75kgs final bout against Moroccan youngster Yassine Elouarz.

Okong’o, who is making his second appearance in the championships, has been scheduled to fight in the day’s 11th contest of a packed final night slated to ring off at 1900 EAT.

After navigating his way past North African representation, Okong’o, who is already guaranteed a silver medal in the event of a loss, feels pumped up for the fight against the 22 year old who has already represented his country at the Youth Olympic Games.

“It has been quite a difficult journey and reaching where I am has not been easy. I have been pitted against North Africans from the onset but I believe I am up to the challenge,” Okong’o told The Star on Friday.

“I know I am assured of winning silver for now but that is not what I want. My mission here is to go back with a gold medal because it's been a long time since Kenya won a boxing gold in the game,” he added.

African Games: Okong'o bullies way to final as Martha seeks to write new history

Enroute to the finals, Okong’o secured a 5-0 points victory over Algeria’s Ahmed Ghazli in Wednesday’s semifinals, which came after his win against Tunisia’s Mohamed Elal.

Elouarz, on the other hand, punched his way into the finals after points victories over DR Congo’s Tshama Mwenekabwe and Jonathan Mwiinga of Zambia.

Historical bronze for Amina Martha

Meanwhile at the BBA Bukom Boxing Arena on Thursday night, Amina Martha became Kenya’s first female boxer to medal at the African Games after clinching bronze medal in the bantamweight event.

The feat however came in unfortunate circumstances, as she was forced to forfeit her semifinals contest against Nigeria’s Shukura Kareem in Round 1 after it appeared that she popped her right shoulder, prompting the towel to fly from the Kenyan corner.

A Friday update with Boxing Federation of Kenya reveals that Martha was taken to a national hospital in Ghana for X-Ray, and will, in the company of team doctor Victor Bargoria, schedule an MRI to evaluate the extent of the damage.