Christine Ongare gives Kenya first win in the IBA World Championships

Finally!

A collective sigh of relief was felt from the Kenyan boxing fans as 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Christine Ongare led the way for Kenya in registering the first win for Hit Squad in the ongoing IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi, India.

In the third fight of Saturday’s Session 5A, Ongare stopped her East African opponent - Rahma Maganga of Tanzania - in the second round, prompting the official to waive off the fight.

The win was the first by a Kenyan lady in the World Championships since 2010 - when Mary Muthoni emerged victorious in the Women World Championships in Barbados.

As promised before the fight, Ongare attacked her opponent from the opening sound of the bell, forcing Rahma to get a standing eight count in the opening round - that she won convincingly.

The second round was when she did all the damage - strongly executing her jabs with efficiency to force the win via the referee’s call (RSC).

All eyes on Ongare to save face in the IBA Women’s World Championships

Ongare’s win - and a second consecutive one against Rahma after outduelling her in the East Africa Championships in January - hopes to be the first of many for the Kenyan boxers who have found it tough going in the first three days of action.

All six boxers prior to Saturday had all lost on points, with coach Benjamin Musa reiterating that the mood in the camp is still high, with more boxers left to play in the first round.

Optimism high despite Kenya’s false start in the IBA Women’s World Championships

Ongare will now wait to meet the winner of the bout between European flyweight champion Erivan Braut and Guatemala’s Dayana Gonzalez.

In another bout on Saturday, Kenya’s debutant Friza Anyango will take on Algeria’s Khelif Imane in the elite women’s welterweight category.