Lack of funds knocks out female boxers from India outing

IT is disappointing to see our boxing female youth team failing to travel to Guwahati, India for the 2017 AIBA Women's Youth World Boxing Championships due to lack of funds, says Zambia Boxing Federation (ZBF) general secretary Bright Chomba.

Chomba said that ZBF was unable to raise the required resources to send two female boxers and officials for the Indian championships which kicked off yesterday.

Speaking during an interview with Daily Nation Sports in Lusaka Chomba said the nation had missed out on an opportunity for Zambia to reap medals at the championship which will run from November 19 to 26 in the northeastern part of India.

“As a federation we are disappointed to see our female boxers not being able to travel to India for the Womens youth world championships because of being unable to raise the requisite resources,

“We had a budget of K131 000 but due to limited resources, as a nation we have missed out on an opportunity for our boxers to have a chance to reap medals at the World Youth Championships,” Chomba said.

He called on the corporate world to support the growth of female boxing by sponsoring important activities such as the world boxing youth championship.

Chomba noted that it was only through the support from the corporate world that the sport could grow to greater heights.

Light flyweight boxer Alice Mbewe and Flyweight, Margret Tembo were scheduled to represent Zambia at the crucial world boxing championship while Exodus Boxing Academy coach Ariel Banda and Richard Banda from Mazabuka were the two coaches selected to mentor the girls.