Linda Ximba
The Team SA boxers will return home empty-handed but the experience gained at the ongoing International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s World Boxing Championships in Turkey will help them in future.
This is the view of boxer Geane Dicks who was part of Team SA, that didn’t win any fights at the tournament last week.
Dicks, who fights in the 75kg division, tried her best but Martha Michel from France was just too good for her.
“The preparations went okay up until we got there. The standard and the event was too big for some of us. For me, this was a wake up call because my opponent was on a different level,” Dicks told Scrolla.Africa from Turkey.
Phiwokuhle Mnguni struggled against Montiel Mereles from Uruguay in their 57kg bout.
Mnguni, who was confident after winning gold at the Zone 4 Games in Mozambique last month, said she learnt a lot during the tournament.
“I lost but I’m happy with the experience I’m taking home. I learnt you must overpower your opponent. This thing of taking time to study your opponent is costly,” she said.
A record 310 boxers representing 73 national federations took part in an expanded 12 weight categories.
Those who do well will represent their countries at the upcoming Birmingham Commonwealth Games in July.
Dicks and Mnguni are expected to participate at the South Africa Games set for July, before they depart for the Commonwealth Games.
Before the tournament in Turkey, Sanabo president Siyabulela Mkwalo said they didn’t expect their boxers to bring home medals as it’s been almost five years since they last participated at the major global events. But they had learnt many valuable lessons.
Image source: @SANABOBoxingOrg
