Wales’ Commonwealth boxers are fighting fit in Delhi
By Effective Communication
Wales’ top boxers have triumphantly returned home from the Commonwealth Federation Championships in Dehli after finishing third in the competition and bagging themselves three medals.
Fred Evans, Andrew Selby, Darren Edwards and Chris Jenkins recently travelled to India for the championships (10-18 March) in preparation for the Commonwealth Games in October.
Newport boxer Fred Evans won a gold medal after an outstanding display beating favourite Boswain Moabi Mothiba by a five points to two margin. Evans, 19, who represents the St Josephs club in Newport in the welterweight class, had already beaten two tough opponents on his way to the final.
London Olympics 2012 prospect from Barry, Andrew Selby, won silver in the 52 kg bantamweight section after his performances against Suranjoy Singh from India (4-0 to Singh) and Gamal Yafai from England (7-6 to Selby).
Chris Jenkins, of Cwmgors, near Ammanford, suffered a blow when illness forced him to withdraw from his final match. Despite this setback, the 64 kg pre-tournament favourite Jenkins still achieved a Silver medal.
Comeback man Darren Edwards, from Cwmavon, was making his first return to the ring after retiring four years ago, but lost on points to English boxer Daniel Phillips in the 60 kg class.
Team Wales coach Tony Williams said: “Most countries entered 10 boxers into this competition compared to Wales’ four man team. To come third despite being one of the smallest teams shows the skill of the Welsh team. I am very proud of their performance which we can hopefully build on for the games in October.”
The Commonwealth Games takes place from October 3-14 this year with 8,000 competitors from 71 countries taking part.
The tournament is the only multi-sport international event in which Wales competes as a country in its own right, and Welsh athletes hold 15 current Commonwealth Games records in 110 hurdles, 400 metres, cycling, shooting and weightlifting categories.
Tags: andrew selby, chris jenkins, commonwealth games 2010, darren edwards, fred evans
