THE national women’s boxing team departs today for Nis, Serbia, where it will compete in this year’s edition of the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.

Boxing Federation of Tanzania (BFT) secretary general Makore Mashaga, who also serves as the delegation leader, confirmed that the team consists of five boxers and three officials.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Mashaga declined to name the boxers traveling to Serbia, stating that doing so could psychologically affect those who were not selected.

“The team is set to leave for Serbia tomorrow (today) to participate in the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. It comprises five boxers, but we cannot reveal their names at this stage, as it might affect those who were not chosen,” Mashaga explained.

Initially, Tanzania had planned to send 12 boxers, but financial constraints limited the delegation to just five. Mashaga expressed gratitude to the government for sponsoring the selected athletes.

The 16 boxers who had been in training camp for the tournament included:

48kg: Veronika Thomas (MMJKT), Martha Patrick; 50kg: Martha Patrick (Ngome), Latifa Said (JKT), Sarafina Fusi (Ngome); 52kg: Zulfa Macho (Ngome); 54kg: Tatiana Ezekiel (Zugo); 57kg: Vumilia Kalinga (Ngome), Zawadi Amosi (MMJKT), Halima Vunjabei (Nakozi) and 60kg: Doricas Daudi (Kwame), Zulfa Iddi (Zogo).

Others are: 63kg: Najma Isike (Taifa); 66kg: Consolata Laiza (Polisi Arusha); 75kg: Salma Michael (Mwanza) and 81kg: Rachel Msingo (Dodoma), Mariam Msabila (Kinyogoli)

The boxers were selected based on their performances in the recent Samia Suluhu Women’s Boxing Championships, the first-ever women’s boxing event of its kind in Tanzania.

Head coach Samuel Kipungu and team matron Aisha George will accompany the team to Serbia.

Mashaga also highlighted the lucrative rewards awaiting top performers at the tournament, with IBA set to award:

Gold medalists: $100,000; Silver medalists: $50,000; Bronze medalists: $25,000 and top five finishers: $10,000 each.

The IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships will feature 500 female boxers from over 100 countries competing across 12 weight categories.