The 22nd edition of the Commonwealth Games has got underway with different nations striving to acquire medals in the different sports they partake in. Sierra Leone has not gotten to the smooth start anticipated by athletes and officials of the different sports disciplines. Swimming was the first to compete from the Sierra Leone delegation, but their three contest hasn’t proved fruitful as all the three swimmers did not qualify for the next stage from the respective heat events. 

The events continue and this week could prove a turning point only if the expectations will come to reality:  Sierra Leone Boxers will be in the ring competing in different bout categories throughout the week. The initial draw favored the country’s female boxers in their first ever appearance in the Commonwealth games; as they qualified to the quarterfinals without any contest, they qualified through the ‘bye’ putting them in pole position for a possible medal.

John Browne who also went through to the round of sixteen without a contest will have to contend with Alston Ryan of Antigua on Sunday, 31st July in the light welterweight (63.5Kg) category at the NEC  Games Village Hall 4.  The experienced boxer from Freetown has expressed hopes of going through to the next stage for the first time in his boxing career at a multi-sport event.

The country’s second bout of the will be held on Tuesday, 2nd August in the Welterweight 67Kg category between Yusufu Deen Kargbo and Luwis Zakeyu Mbewe of Malawi at 1:45 PM in Hall 4.

However, Wednesday, 3rd August is the day for the female boxers at the quarterfinals stage. Sara Haghihat Joo will engage Teddy Nakimuli of Uganda in the Light Flyweight 50Kg at 12:45 PM. The Canadian based Sierra Leonean boxer has been pinpoint to defeat her contender, and is one of those highly expected to bring home one of Sierra Leon’s medals. 

Zainab Keita and Kaye Francess Scott of Australia will engage in the Light Middleweight 70Kg category at 2:15 PM to wrap up an eventful bouting week for Sierra Leone’s boxing contingent.