Martha, Ayoma seek to end Kenya's tough outing at the Women’s World Boxing Championship in Istanbul

Bantamweight Amina Martha and lightweight Stacy Ayoma will be in action on Thursday night at the ongoing Women’s World Boxing Championship in Istanbul, Turkey, an arena that Kenyan boxers have had a tough outing so far.

Kenya had entered 10 boxers in the 12th edition of IBA Women's World Championships but only four are remaining from the 10, with six already bundled out.

Light-middleweight Lorna Kusa, minimumweight Christine Ongare, flyweight Ann Wanjiru, featherweight Beatrice Akoth, middleweight Elizabeth Akinyi, and light-welter Teresia Wanjiru have all been boxed out of contention, with only Martha, Ayoma, welter Everlyn Akinyi, and light-heavyweight Liz Andiego being the only ones left.

Ongare lost 2018 World Championship silver medallist Hanna Okhota of Ukraine on points on Tuesday while Kusa was, unfortunately, no match to Kazakhstan’s Valentina Khalzova.

This is the third time Andiego is taking part in the Women's World Championships, the first time being in 2010 in Barbados and then in 2012 in China.

While Martha and Ayoma take to the ring on Thursday, Akinyi will be in action in the round of 16 on Sunday with Andiego taking the stage in the quarter-finals on Monday.

Footballer-turned boxer Akinyi, who received a bye to the last 16, meets the winner of today's bout between Morocco's Oumayma Bel Abib vs Ivanusa Gomes of Cape Verde while Andiego, a beneficiary of a bye to the quarters, will take on the winner of Friday's bout between Turkey's Elif Guneri and South Africa's Mkateko Guneri.

Additional reporting by Nenez Media Services