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.
Iosefo Folesi (blue) of Samoa and Muhammad Asri Hazreen Mokhtar (red) in the 60kg
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.
