NPGHS Student Achievements - Past & Present

Awhitu nabs silver at youth champs

New Plymouth Girls' High School year 11 pupil Thea Awhitu claimed a silver medal at the world junior/youth boxing championships in Turkey.

Awhitu, 15, was outpointed 21-6 in the the final of the junior 57kg division against a Turkish opponent and veteran of 50 fights.

Awhiti is a relative novice with just 14 fights under her belt.

Her coach from the Box Office Club in Bell Block, Jacob Rapira, said Awhitu went into the final "pretty roughed up" from earlier fights at the tournament.

"From what I understand, she had problems with her wrist and Achilles and was also carrying a knuckle injury, but she gave it a really good go," he said.

"She's come away with a silver so she's done really well and is now No2 in the world in her age-group."

Rapira said Boxing New Zealand officials had noted Awhitu's silver was New Zealand's greatest achievement by an amateur female boxer at an international event.

"Even though we were hoping she would get the gold, I revel in the fact that it took a world champion to beat her. Everyone else she fought in the tournament she walked through," Rapira said.

As reported by the Taranaki Daily News - 3 May 2011 - Tony Bird