Nketu targets strong showing at World Boxing Africa Championships

Leemisa Thuseho NATIONAL boxing coach, Thabiso Nketu, is confident his boxers are ready to make their mark at the inaugural World Boxing Africa Championships in Nairobi, Kenya. The championships begin today (Thursday) and run until 28 October. Lesotho is represented by two boxers: Rapelang Meselela in the women’s 57kg category and Monaheng Khebe in the men’s 65kg division. The tournament is being staged under African Boxing, an affiliate of World Boxing established to help guide boxers safely towards the Olympic Games. Meselela will be seeking to build on her recent international success after making history in August by becoming the first Lesotho female athlete to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games. She claimed bronze at the Games in Glasgow, Scotland. Meanwhile, Khebe returns to competitive boxing after making a successful comeback at the recent Best of Best Boxing Tournament in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, where he won gold. Khebe completed his army training in June, but Nketu said the boxer had demonstrated that he remained in good shape following his return to the ring. His gold-medal performance in the Eastern Cape, the coach added, was evidence that he remained competitive. Both boxers are beneficiaries of Olympic Solidarity (OS) athlete scholarships, which support their preparations and qualification campaigns for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. “We arrived well in Kenya, and the players are all in good condition, except Meselela, whose right thumb had a minor injury and we are taking care of it, but she is ready and will fight,” Nketu told the Lesotho Times yesterday. Nketu said the team had continued training since returning from the Commonwealth Games in August, with several important competitions ahead as the boxers pursue qualification for the Olympic Games. “Since returning from the Commonwealth Games, we have been hard at work. This World Boxing event is one big competition that can help us improve our chances of qualifying for the Olympic Games,” he said. Fixtures for the various weight categories are expected to be released today (Thursday).