Four Ugandan boxers defy odds to harvest medals in Congo
David GOMBE
Four Ugandan boxers returned home from Kinshasa, DR Congo with medals despite limited preparations and several setbacks ahead of the IBA Africa Boxing Championship.
Under the interim Uganda Boxing Committee led by Olympian Sam Rukundo, Uganda was represented by nine boxers at the event in Kinshasa.
After two weeks of battling, four of the boxers clinched medals. Heavyweight Emmy Abel Ebong won silver after his final defeat to DR Congo’s experienced Peter Mpita Kabeji.
Ebong agonizingly lost the fight in the third round but left Congo with his head held high on his debut at the championship.
Rukundo’s team also clinched three bronze medals courtesy of middleweight Ronald Nsamba, light heavyweight Ronald Wandera and lightweight Sarah Laker Katongole.
In Congo, Ugandan boxers were up against the best on the African continent. At the end of the championship, hosts DR Congo won 17 gold medals, Cameroon and Zambia each managed three gold medals, while Congo Brazzaville and Mozambique each scooped one gold medal.