Pair down, but not out – Mofu

Two South African boxers representing the country at the World Youth Championships in Hungary crashed to demoralising defeats.

The first to be eliminated was Mdantsane’s Ndikho Nyhebe in the bantamweight division.

Nyhebe lost a points decision to Georgia’s Gia Totladze to see his medal aspirations go up in smoke.

The championships which punched off last week Tuesday will finish off on Friday.

Contested by boxers between the age of 17 and 18 years from 44 countries they proved to be the toughest with several favourites bombing out in the preliminary stages.

The country had two representatives in Nyhebe and female boxer Amori Gonsalves of Johannesburg.

Gonsalves atoned herself well as she progressed to the second round where she lost to an opponent from Finland.

Despite the losses, SA National Boxing Organisation (Sanabo) president Andile Mofu congratulated the boxers for representing the country at an international event.

Mofu said the experiencewould come in handy in the duo’s future endeavours in the game.

“They may have lost but we are proud of them and what they did for the country,” he said.

“Much as we would have loved them to bring home a medal but part of the trip to Hungary was to empower them with experience. They have been involved in the elite level of the championships and the

They have been involved in the elite level and the experience they have gained will help them in future

experience they have gained will help them in future.”

The majority of boxers who participated in the championships will likely be part of the 2014 Olympic Games.

While the country returned empty-handed, Mofu ruled out the prospect of having no representatives at the games.

This after the country failed to qualify a boxer to the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.

“There is still a long way to go before 2024 and the preparations start now,” he said.

There are still 2020 Olympics in Tokyo to look forward to, Mofu argued.