May 3, 2024

Kyalo eyes glory at world bonanza

Police middleweight boxer John Kyalo /COURTESY

Police middleweight boxer John Kyalo /COURTESY
With just a week remaining before the national team fly out to Hamburg for this month’s 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championship, Police middleweight boxer John Kyalo is unfazed by the pressure of competing at the big stage.
The XIX edition of the men’s AIBA World Championships starts on August 25 in Hamburg and has attracted over 270 best boxers across he block. The 22-year-old, who won a bronze medal in his senior team debut at the recent Africa Championship in Congo, Brazzaville, will be making his debut at the AIBA World Championship after displaying brilliant form throughout the 2017 season.
Kyalo, one of the three boxers alongside Nick Okoth (lightweight) and Shaffi Bakari (light fly), disclosed in an interview at the national team’s off-residential camp at Nairobi’s Mathare Police Deport that he doesn’t feel intimidated by the magnitude of the occasion but he is actually looking forward to gracing the big stage in Germany with zeal and vigour.
“It’s a shame that when I first made my debut in AIBA events in 2012 as a junior, I was not at my best given the shoulder injury that denied me the advantage to advance to the medal bracket competition. But I’m overly excited to be back on the global arena at senior level. What I know for sure, is that the arena in Hamburg is going to be sold out but that won’t change anything about my approach to the game. I’m still going to take the game situation as it comes as competition is always tough at that level,” said Kyalo.
“It’s not my first time on the world stage. I boxed at the World Junior Championships in 2012 but got eliminated at the preliminary stage due to a shoulder injury I picked up in training at the last minute. So there will be nothing like stage fright for me. It’s just a different ball game, which I know I will get used to in a flash,” said Kyalo who is a product of Dallas Muthaura Boxing Club. The national team departs to Hamburg on August 20. Coaches David Munuhe and Mike Musine will travel with the team.
Coach Munuhe said the boxers are keen to give their all in Hamburg. “The team boxers have been working hard, getting better and better so we’re excited ahead of the World Championship. Speed work and the techniques, which we are working on, are now are now in top notch,” said team’s head coach.

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