Zambia’s Tokyo Olympics bound trio of Patrick Chinyemba, Steven Zimba and and Evaristo Mulenga have recorded top 10 global rankings in their various weight categories according to a list released the International Boxing Association (AIBA) recently.
Captain of the team Mulenga is the best ranked among the three at second place in the 57kg featherweight category just behind Uzbekistan’s Mirazizbeck Mirzakhalilov while Chinyemba is placed at fifth in his 52kg super-flyweight category.
Zimba is ranked eighth in 69kg welterweight category where he is also level with Russia’s Andrey Zamkovoy and India’s Vikas Kirshan.
The rankings come after an impressive showing for the trio at the African Boxing Championships in Senegal last year in February where all three came back with a medal each and consequently qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.
Two other Zambian boxers have also earned impressive rankings too. Mbachi Kaonga, despite having been out of action since 2019 has been placed at 45 globally following his exceptional performances at the World Championship qualifiers and Commonwealth Games.
Nkumbu Silungwe is ranked in the welterweight category alongside Zimba but in 50th place.
The rankings which are done by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Task Force are based on a point accumulation system and are expected to be updated after the conclusion of all qualifiers for the Games. European and American qualifiers are expected in April this year.
National team coach Wisdom Mudenda expressed happiness with the rankings and described as giving motivation going into the games which are only five months away in July.
“It means a lot to have five of my boxers ranked among the best in the world,” Mudenda said. “It gives us motivation going into the Olympics.”
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