Light heavyweight Kenyan boxer Elizabeth Andiego has expressed hope that she will be a medalist at the upcoming IBA World Championships set for New Delhi, India.

The tournament will kick off on March 14, and culminate on 24th - and despite Kenya not winning a single medal since the competition's inception in 2001, Andiego is optimistic.

The Hit Squad assistant captain is among a contingent of 13 Kenyan boxers who are at a non-residential training camp at the Mathare Depot in Nairobi honing their skills ahead of their departure to India.

In May 2022 all the Kenyan pugilists were eliminated in the first round of the competition that was held in Istanbul, Turkey, but Andiego, 36, is hoping for a better outing this time around.

"So far I can say that the training is going on well, everyone is working hard to correct their weaknesses. At the moment we are polishing our sharpness and reflex on game situations and I hope towards the end of our preps we will be ready," Andiego said.

She clearly knows why this time round there has to be a medal from her, considering her experience and age.

“This will be my fourth world championship, and currently I’m ranked number nine, so I am targeting a better performance than last year so that I can also improve on my ranking and if possible I come back home with a medal. The team morale is high in the camp and we hope to perform better than last year,” added Andiego.

In Istanbul at the Başakşehir Youth and Sports Facility, Andiego lost to Elif Guner of Turkey on points in the three round 75-81kg weight bout becoming the last Kenyan to be eliminated from the competition.

Kenya Full squad in Camp:

Elizabeth Andiego (light heavyweight), Christine Ongare (minimum weight), Lancer Akinyi (light fly), Ann Wanjiru (light fly), Veronica Mbithe (fly), Emily Juma (fly), Amina Martha (bantamweight), Alice Waiyego (bantamweight), Pauline Chege (feather), Stacy Ayoma (lightweight), Teresia Wanjiru (light welterweight), Friza Anyango (welterweight), Evaline Akinyi, (welterweight), Lorna Kusa light-middleweight), and Elizabeth Akinyi (middleweight).