Samoa secures 2 bronze medals in boxing as the knockout rounds continue

Samoa’s Ioane Ioane (blue) declared Bronze winner against Sigapore’s Prithiv Raaj Elansharan (red)

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA: WEDNESDAY 09 SEPTEMBER 2015: The Samoa boxing team has at least secured 2 bronze medals after coming through last nights competition and will compete again in tonight’s semfinals.

Ioane Ioane, 17 year old of Vaiusu defeated his opponent  Prithiv Raaj Elansharan of Singapore in the 52 kg lightweight  division and Iosefo  Folesi defeated  Muhommed  Asi Hazreem in the 60kg flyweight  round.

According to the teams coach and games committee manager  Faletolu Su’a, the boys did well considering the short period they trained for the games.

“We had 4 weeks of training which is not a healthy timeframe to train a team for big games like the Commonwealth,” said  Su’a.

All 8 members of Samoa’s boxing team competed last night and only 2 managed to secure places in the medal rankings.

The team will again compete tonight in the semi finals to secure placing in tomorrows final rounds.

“As for Ioane and Iosefo, their bronze medals are confirmed but will again compete tonight,” said Sua.

Ioane will take  on Jack Bowen of Australia while Iosefo will face  Thadius Katua of Papua New Guinea.

According to Su’a, another potential medallist for Samoa is John Peneueta who will take on  Sean Lazzerini of Scotland in tonight’s semi finals.

Samoa has secured 3 silvers and 1 bronze by the third day of competition.