Frustrated Ongare blames referee for losing bout

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BOXING Frustrated Ongare blames referee for losing bout

Abigael Wafula 18:30 - 22.03.2023

Ongare became the first Kenyan to make it to the round of 16.

Hit Squad coach Benjamin Musa and 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Christine Ongare have blamed poor judgement of the referees to the early exit of the pugilist at the ongoing IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi, India.

Musa, who expressed his frustration while speaking on KBC, noted that the referees seemed to have a pre-judgement of the boxers and did not even offer ample time for the match to intensify.

“I think the referee just looks at a boxer and forms his own judgement even before the match starts,” he lamented.

Ongare had raised the hopes of Kenyans after she successfully made the cut to the round of 16 after securing her win over Tanzania’s Rahma Maganga. Unfortunately, she lost in her match against Turkey’s Erivan Barut and failed to proceed to the quarter final.

She, however, expressed her frustrations towards the judgement the referee passed.

“I really kept trying my best but the referee just kept saying stop. I still thought we had some time remaining but he blew the whistle. As an athlete, I don’t have a choice and so I decided to give in,” teary Ongare narrated.

She joins the list of the pugilists who had been eliminated including Amina Martha, Pauline Chege, Ann Wanjiru, Lucy Ayoma, Olympian Elizabeth Akinyi and Frizzah Anyango.

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