Commonwealth Super welterweight champion Sarah Achieng, otherwise known as ‘angel of war’, has been named the LG/Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) sports personality for the month of December.
The ‘Boxgirls Kenya’ fighter put herself high on the map after her knockout victory over Zimbabwean opponent Chiedza Homakoma in their Commonwealth title fight at the Charter Hall in Nairobi.
Achieng dominated the bout and defeated the Zimbabwean, nicknamed ‘The Queen Tiger’ in the eighth round of the fight.
“I am really delighted to have won this award. Even when I was coming here, I had no idea this is why I was coming. I am really delighted and for me this is a massive motivation because it shows me that even when I am working, there are people watching in the background,” Achieng said.
She added; “My next fight is next month in Belgium and this has now given me an extra push to go there and do my best again.”
In claiming the December award, Achieng carried home an LG Nano Cell smart TV worth Sh100, 000 courtesy of title sponsors LG East Africa.
The hard-hitting boxer beat top nominees among them Chess National Champion Mehul Gohil, Roslidah Sumwa of Tennis and Collins Ndunda who won gold, silver and bronze at the Mombasa international tong il-modo.
Sarah becomes the fourth boxer to win the trophy after former WBC Champion Fatma Zarika, Judy Waguthii and Hit Squad mainstay Elly Ajowi.
Achieng is a product of the revered Boxgirls Kenya, which is a community-based Organisation set up to build the work started by Coach Analo Anjere (popularly known as Priest).
Boxgirls has produced some of Kenya’s most prolific lady boxers including trail-blazing Kenya amateur team star Elizabeth Andiego, the first Kenyan lady to play at the Olympic Games in London 2012.