Commonwealth Games

W.Sanford (Can) bt J.Tukamuhebwa (Ug)

T.Nakimuli WO S. Haghighat-Joo (Sierra.L).

Today

O.Kibira Vs S.Zimba (Zam).

Light flyweight Teddy Nakimuli became the first Ugandan female boxer to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games and its first in boxing at the ongoing games in Birmingham.

Nakimuli 22, sailed through to the games semifinals without hustle following a  walkover after Sierra Leone’s Sara Haghighat-Joo failed to make the mandatory weight.

This is Uganda’s third medal at the games after Jacob Kiplimo and Victor Kiplangat’s gold in the marathon and 10,000m respectively.

Nakimuli, the University of Pain pugilist won the medal without a sweat just like middleweight Hellen Baleke in the 2019 Africa games.

Nakimuli is now assured of at least a bronze medal minus stepping into the ring following her first bye at the round 16 that drew her with Haghighat at the quarters.

She will return to the ring on Saturday against 2018 Commonwealth silver medalist Carly McNaul from Northern Ireland.

“I can’t thank God enough because he has been there for me from day one, winning a medal without receiving any punch clearly shows God’s miracles still exist. I'm looking for more and believe I will bring gold back home,” Nakimuli told Vision Sports in a whatsapp message.

Tukamuhebwa eliminated

On the same day, Joshua Tukamuhebwa, the national boxing team captain missed a chance to progress to the medal bracket.

Tukamuhebwa lost a 4-1 split decision to Canada’s Wyatt Sanford in a tightly light welterweight contest.

His loss was a big blow for Uganda as he was in such fine form.

His campaign saw him batter Northern Ireland’s John Paul Hale and Australian Billy Polkinghorn at the round of 32 and 16 respectively.

Kibira returns to the ring

Meanwhile, welterweight Owen Kibira returns to the ring today against Zambia’s tricky Stephen Zimba.

Kibira outclassed Bangladesh’s Ali Hossan at the round of 16 to punch his way to the quarters.

The Lukanga boxing club pugilist comes into today’s fight knowing that he is the last man standing in the men’s boxing team following the elimination of his colleagues Jonah Kyobe, Isaac Zebra Ssenyange, Yusuf Nkobeza, and Tukamuhebwa.

“I’m not scared of anyone. My mission here is to win a medal, so expect to see my best show ever,” he said.

Kibira’s best moment for the bombers was winning a silver medal at the Mt Kilimanjaro Boxing Championship in Tanzania in May this year.