Africa-Press – Kenya. Africa Zone 3 superheavyweight champion, Elly Ajowi, says he hopes to exorcise the ghosts that have denied him medals at major global events when he ultimately takes his battle to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in the new year.
Ajowi who successfully defended his title at the national trials in Kisumu said he plans to take a week-long rest first to recover, following a series of bruising battles that saw him contest for honours at various global and local events.
He was part of the Hit Squad contingent to the 2020 Tokyo Games and the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Serbia.
“I intend to take a short break from the ring to recover the energy I lost before I can embark on fresh preparations ahead of the global shows lined up for the new year,” he said.
“It will be an active rest where I will be involved in other exercises outside the ring, including keeping fit on the football pitch,” he added.
Ajowi might secure an automatic berth in the national team if coach Benjamin Musa bases his selection on the outcome of the national trials that concluded in Kisumu on Saturday.
Musa hinted earlier in the week that BFK could be forced to organise another event to select boxers after several household names gave the second edition of Jamal Cup a wide berth.
During the edition, Ajowi cruised to the winner’s podium for another gold medal after waltzing his way to emphatic victory over Brayan Omondi of Kentrack in the super heavyweight division.
The outcome was a replication of the splendid form he exhibited during the first edition of the championships at Nairobi’s Chater Hall in November, where he subjected the same pugilist to another defeat.
Ajowi says his focus has now shifted to the forthcoming global shows planned for next year.
“I thank God for consolidating my position in the national team. I aim to win gold medals at the forthcoming Africa Boxing Championships slated for Cameroon in January and the 2020 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham,” said Ajowi.
Ajowi termed the national trials a huge success, saying it served to unearth the hidden potential in the country.
“I saw quite a good number of male boxers who can make it to the big stage if exposed to the right kind of mentorship programs. One of them is Kongowea’s lightweight Mwinyi Kombo,” said Ajowi.
While echoing earlier concerns expressed by his teammates that their performance in Tokyo and Serbia was negated by new rules introduced moments before the competition, Ajowi said they now had their ears on the ground.
“The good thing is that BFK communications director Duncan Kuria, is keeping us posted on arising changes unlike in the past when we were kept in the dark only to get surprises at tournaments,” said Ajowi.
Asked to single out the competitor who could possibly be giving him sleepless nights ahead of Hit Squad’s trip to Cameroon, Ajowi said he didn’t have anyone in mind.
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