LENCER UNDAUNTED BY THE BIG TASK AHEAD IN SERBIA
Lencer Akinyi is resolutely determined and headstrong despite the herculean task she’s facing in Nis, Serbia where she’s making her international debut in the World Championships from March 8-16.
In normal circumstances, Akinyi should have gone through a gradual ascension featuring in inter-country, regional and Africa tournaments before taking part in Women’s World Championships but owing to lack of regular competitions in Africa and constant exposure, she is plunging into the deep waters in her maiden appearance for the national team.
She’s however not the only one faced with this challenge. Two of her teammates, lightweight Emily Juma and light-welterweight Cynthia Mwai, are also making their maiden international appearance in Serbia. Others such as featherweight Pauline Chege and welterweight Friza Anyango also made their international debuts in the last World Championships in New Delhi, India in 2023.
Akinyi will therefore have to dig deep into her reservoir of confidence, courage, perseverance and willpower; regardless of the big challenge in Serbia.
She will also rely on her knowledge and life skills she has gained at her club, Boxgirls. The community based organisation empowers the girl child through boxing.
Akinyi’s challenge will come from Asian and European boxers. At the 2023 Women’s Worlds, China’s Wu Yu won gold with Italy’s Sirine Charaabi settling for silver.
She and her compatriots have been training in a non-residential camp at Mathare Depot in Nairobi under head coach Musa Benjamin who is now putting in the finishing touches before departure for Serbia.
“Lencer is working on her speed and keeping range, she isn’t using her reach well and she’s very slow.”
Musa explains why she preferred Akinyi to Faith Nafuna who made her international debut in 2024 in the Africa Championships in Kinshasa, DR Congo.
“Lencer is a bit technically superior to Faith though the latter is stronger and more aggressive.”
How does Akinyi feel representing the national for the first time?
“It is an incredible honor to represent my country, this is a dream come true and I feel proud to carry the flag to showcase my skills in the ring,” Akinyi told boxersworld.co.ke in an interview.
“Although it’s my first time, I’m ready to give my best, stay focused, and make my country proud.
“I’m expecting good results and performance with a relaxed mind, composure and to handle my opponents with confidence.”
The third born in a family of five girls, Akinyi, who is from Nyamira County in Kenya’s Western Region, ventured into boxing in 2020 at Boxgirls where she now works as a field coordinator.
“I joined Boxgirls Kenya in 2013 as a life skills participant since I never had an interest in boxing. After my high school I rejoined the organisation to give back to the community as a life skills facilitator.
“My journey as a boxer began at the end of the 2020 with coach Alfred Analo aka Priest and Jane Knight aka Sonko Msoto as my coaches. It hasn’t been easy because my coach believed in me more than I believed in myself. Being skinny was a big challenge to me by then because I thought boxing was all about masculinity.
“My mum (may she continue resting in peace) was also a big challenge when I began boxing, she was totally against it. She believed boxing was a male dominated sport and never wanted to hear about it. I trained for the last two months of 2020 and then in 2021 January I participated in the Nairobi and national novices and intermediates. In the national novices I was named the most promising boxer in the light-flyweight class. This was a big morale booster and encouraged me to work harder.”
Akinyi’s most memorable moment was when she fully stretched 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Christine Ongare before going down on points in 2023.
“I managed the whole three rounds with her,” recalls Akinyi who’s married and has a beautiful daughter called Larry.
“She won points but in an interview she said it seems I was just training for her since the fight wasn’t easy. This was after Jamal’s Cup in Kisumu when she stopped me within one minute of the first round.”
What inspires Akinyi in boxing?
“My biggest inspiration is the passion that I have for fitness and sports, it is through boxing that I have gained my confidence. I am also inspired by Commonwealth champion Sarah Achieng aka Angel of War who is my teammate and sparring partner. I also thank coach Charles Mukula of Dallas Boxing Club for he has also played big role in my boxing journey.”
