Uutoni strikes gold

JAFET Uutoni on Saturday became the first Namibian boxer to land a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games since the country’s participation started in 1994.

The only two boxers to have scooped medals at the Games were Paulus ‘Ali’ Nuumbembe (welterweight) and Josua Veikko (flyweight). Both won bronze at the Commonwealth Games held in Manchester, England, in 2002.Uutoni, who fights in the light-flyweight category, outscored Englishman Darren Langley 37-24 after trailing 4-8 in the first round.He came back strongly in the second round, but was still being led 12-14 at the end of that round, before he dominated the third round by scoring 27-18 after the bell rang.The last and decisive round proved too much for the Englishman, who could not contain the heavy blows of the Namibian, who appeared to be more fired-up in the last two minutes of the fight.Langley clearly looked heart-broken after the defeat, as analysts had predicted that he would take the gold.But Langley had to settle for another silver, just like in Manchester four years ago.He is also the African champion in the 48-kg category after he claimed gold at the All African Championships in Casablanca, Morocco, last year.Uutoni, who is the current Namibian Sportsman of the Year, is also known as ‘Slow Poison’, in reference to his fighting style, but since his African Championship win people have taken to calling him ‘The Namibian Lion’.He has been training under Nestor Tobias at his Boxing and Fitness Academy in Windhoek.Uutoni and pistol shooter Friedhelm Sack (bronze), are the only Namibians to have won medals at the Games after a total of nine codes were sent to represent the country in Australia.Sack fired his way to the bronze medal in the 10-metre air-pistol competition.He also won bronze four years ago.He is an experienced shooter, having participated at three Olympic Games and three previous Commonwealth Games.Apart from boxing and shooting, the other Namibian teams at the Games – athletics, bowling, cycling, gymnastics, rugby and swimming – performed below expectations, with most of the competitors being bundled out in the first rounds.The Namibian delegation is expected home later this week.Both won bronze at the Commonwealth Games held in Manchester, England, in 2002.Uutoni, who fights in the light-flyweight category, outscored Englishman Darren Langley 37-24 after trailing 4-8 in the first round.He came back strongly in the second round, but was still being led 12-14 at the end of that round, before he dominated the third round by scoring 27-18 after the bell rang.The last and decisive round proved too much for the Englishman, who could not contain the heavy blows of the Namibian, who appeared to be more fired-up in the last two minutes of the fight.Langley clearly looked heart-broken after the defeat, as analysts had predicted that he would take the gold.But Langley had to settle for another silver, just like in Manchester four years ago.He is also the African champion in the 48-kg category after he claimed gold at the All African Championships in Casablanca, Morocco, last year.Uutoni, who is the current Namibian Sportsman of the Year, is also known as ‘Slow Poison’, in reference to his fighting style, but since his African Championship win people have taken to calling him ‘The Namibian Lion’.He has been training under Nestor Tobias at his Boxing and Fitness Academy in Windhoek.Uutoni and pistol shooter Friedhelm Sack (bronze), are the only Namibians to have won medals at the Games after a total of nine codes were sent to represent the country in Australia.Sack fired his way to the bronze medal in the 10-metre air-pistol competition.He also won bronze four years ago.He is an experienced shooter, having participated at three Olympic Games and three previous Commonwealth Games.Apart from boxing and shooting, the other Namibian teams at the Games – athletics, bowling, cycling, gymnastics, rugby and swimming – performed below expectations, with most of the competitors being bundled out in the first rounds.The Namibian delegation is expected home later this week.