▪️The four boxers from the East African boxing giant have said they’ll emulate the legends who made Kenya proud during the famous King’s Cup held annually in Bangok
▪️”I’ve told Sonia to bring back a gold medal if not she’ll not enter Kisumu,” says Ashley Akinyi, Sonia’s big sister.
March 7, 2026
Kenya’s team of four boxers has landed in Bangkok for World Futures U19 Boxing Tournament promising to carry the fight to their opponents.
“Hatucheki na mtu tuko hapa kwa vita, watajua hawajui (We’re here for war it’s not comedy they’ll know who we are),” said a confident captain Sonia Atieno immediately on arrival in Bangok . Sonia will fight in 65kg category.
“We will be very aggressive in the ring and hit them hard,” the 16-year-old Grade 10 student at Lions High School in Kisumu told boxersworld.co.ke
Sonia, the third born in a family of four, stays in Nyalenda Estate with her mum Pauline Auma, big sister Ashley Akinyi, and brothers Shakes Ouma and Robert Bruce Ofena.
Ashley, the first born, has given Sonia tough conditions.
“If you don’t bring gold don’t come back to Kisumu stay there, fight as if your entire life depends on this competition,” Ashley told her sister before departure to Bangkok, Thailand, for the World Futures U19 Cup tournament starting on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
Sonia won a bronze medal at lightweight in her international debut during the 2025 Africa Youth Games in Angola. She was to represent Kenya at the inaugural African School Games in Algeria but she had no opponent.
Sonia is now the darling of Nyalenda Estate residents, a predominantly informal, densely populated settlement on the southern outskirts of Kisumu City, established near the Kenya-Uganda railway.
It’s a low-income residential hub facing challenges with drainage, flood management, drug abuse among the youth, early pregnancies and waste disposal.
Boxing has helped to keep Sonia away from the challenges facing the youth in Nyalenda slums.
“Some of my friends regret why they didn’t join me in boxing, they engaged in anti-social behaviour and wasted themselves,” said Sonia, a member of Korumba Delta Boxing Club led by chairman Simon Wasuna who has witnessed a big interest in boxing among the youth in Nyalenda following Sonia’s exploits in the ring.
“Young boys and girls are now taking up boxing to emulate Sonia Atieno,” said Wasuna.
At only 16 years of age, Sonia is also one of the family’s bread winners assisting her single mum Pauline with the allowance she earns in foreign trips.
“Life is so hard in Nyalenda, I’m happy my daughter Sonia assists me with whatever she earns in boxing,” said Pauline, affectionately known as Mama Champ in Nyalenda.
“We’re praying to God she performs well in Bangkok we believe in her she’s a very good boxer.”
In addition to Sonia, other members of Kenya’s team are flyweight Ellah Demesi, bantamweight Brian Arianda and lightweight Phelix Ochieng.
Head coach Musa Benjamin once again thanked the Kenya government for funding their trip to Bangkok.
“The Sports Ministry has been very supportive to BFK, we’re happy through them Kenya is participating in this important tournament,” said Musa.
The Bangkok event is a qualifier for the Youth Olympic Games to be held in Dakar, Senegal from October 31-November 13, 2026. It’s the first ever Olympics to be staged in Africa.
