Hit Squad captain Elizabeth Andiego has vowed to light up the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi, India when she takes on her opponent in the quarterfinals of the IBA World Boxing Championships on Wednesday.
Andiego, who got a bye in the preliminaries, will dare Fariza Shotley of Kazakhstan to a duel in the light heavyweight division.
The Kenyan is one of the three African boxers who have cruised to the quarterfinals of the premier global showpiece that has lived up to its billing thus far.
Andiego is carrying the hopes of an entire nation that is depending on her to save the blush that has been occasioned by the elimination of other Kenyan boxers in the preliminary bouts.
“I’m confident of performing well in my bout. I have done enough research on my opponent and I already know her strengths and weak areas that I can easily capitalise on,” Andiego said.
Despite coaches raising concerns about the officiating at the tournament, Andiego is confident she can pummel her opponent to an extent that nobody will be left with any doubts about her triumph.
“These are some of the challenges we prepared ourselves psychologically to grapple with. There have always been issues with how decisions are made by the judges but that is the least of my concerns at the moment,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to a good performance and I came here determined to bag a medal. I will stop at nothing to achieve my dream.”
In an exclusive interview on Monday, the seasoned pugilist said she is also eyeing a slot to the 2024 Paris Olympics after missing out on the previous Games in Tokyo, where the country was represented by the quartet of Elly Ajowi, Nick Okoth, Christine Ongare and Elizabeth Akinyi.
“Of course, part of my agenda in New Delhi is to book a berth in the forthcoming 2024 Olympics. I’m crossing my fingers for a superb performance,” Andiego said.
On Saturday, Team Kenya won their first Women’s World Boxing Championships in thirteen years after Christine Ongare’s second-round stoppage of Tanzania’s southpaw Rahma Maganga. Mary Muthoni became the first Kenyan to win a fight at this stage during the 2010 Women’s Worlds in Barbados.