Boxers do SA proud

2006-03-22 16:25

Johannesburg - Welterweight Bongani Mwelase and flyweight Jackson Chauke have assured Team SA of at least a further two medals after producing convincing quarterfinal victories to progress to the semi-final of the boxing competition at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Sedibeng-based Mwelase, winner of the gold medal at the Commonwealth Boxing Championships held in Glasgow, Scotland in November last year, piled on the pressure in his fight against Botswana's Moabi Mothiba, forcing the referee to intervene and stop the bout in the second round.

Chauke, who took the bronze medal in the flyweight division at the Glasgow event, was equally as impressive in scoring a 27-11 points win over Guyana's Terrence Marques in their fourth- round bout.

Bantamweight Bongani Mahlangu had his hopes of a Commonwealth medal dashed, in losing 34-20 over four rounds to India's Akhil Kumar.

With Mwelase and Chauke having booked their semi-final places, and with both losing semi-finalists to be awarded bronze medals, Team SA's medal tally of 23 medals is certain to grow by two, with the colour of the medals to be decided by the outcome of the semi-final or possible final bouts.

The losing semi-finalists in the various weight divisions will each receive a bronze medal and not be required to fight for the honour of third place.

Lawn bowls singles players - Gerry Baker and Lorna Trigwell - are still in the hunt for quarterfinal places in a bid to add to the bronze medal won by the men's trips team of Neil Burkett, Eric Johannes and Gidion "Gippo" Vermeulen earlier.

Meanwhile, Team SA's 400m hurdles track and field stars - LJ van Zyl, Alwyn Myburgh and Pieter de Villiers - all advanced to the final of their event, while Commonwealth hammer throw record-holder Chris Harmse, and the men's 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m relay teams could well add to Team SA's medal tally before the Games end with the closing ceremony at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

- SAPA