Hellen Baleke

Hellen Baleke
Born
Hellen Baleke

(1987-05-03) May 3, 1987 (age 37)
Kayunga District, Uganda
NationalityUgandan
Other namesNnalongo
Statistics
Weight(s)Middleweight
Medal record
Women's boxing
Representing  Uganda
African Games
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Rabat Middleweight

Hellen Baleke (born 3 May 1987[1]) is a Ugandan amateur boxer notable for being the first Ugandan woman to win a bronze medal in boxing[2] at the 2019 All Africa Games.[3][4]

Boxing career

Hellen Baleke took up boxing in 2005[5] as a trainee with Rhino Club before moving to KCCA Boxing Club in 2008.[6] She competes in the middleweight division.[7] She has also represented Uganda internationally with the She Bombers and is coached by Mercy Mukankusi.[8]

She has represented Uganda at the 2014 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships in Jeju, South Korea, where she lost to eventual Gold medal winner, Claressa Shields. She also participated in the 2019 African Games, where she fought Khadija El-Mardi en route to winning the bronze medal.[3]

Personal life

Hellen Baleke was born to Sarah Bagoole[9][10] in Kayunga District.[11]

Hellen Baleke is a mother of two[9] and is the elder sister of She Bombers boxer, Diana Tulyanabo.[12][13]

References

  1. ^ AIBA (16 November 2014). "AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships Jeju 2014 Entry List by NOC" (PDF). AIBA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Female boxing coach wants more medals". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  3. ^ a b Muyita, Joel (2019-08-27). "All Africa Games: Masembe, Ssemujju win quarterfinal bouts to enter medal bracket". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  4. ^ Zziwa, Hassan Badru. "Ugandan boxers need special recognition". The Observer - Uganda. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  5. ^ "Baleke beats the odds to become boxing's poster girl". www.newvision.co.ug. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  6. ^ "Baleke beats the odds to become boxing's poster girl". www.newvision.co.ug. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  7. ^ Jackson, Kayiira. "Olympics2020 Qualifiers: Bizarre, Coach Dropped, Receptionist On Plane". Archived from the original on 2020-02-15. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  8. ^ "Why Ugandan boxers flopped at the Africa Olympic qualifiers". www.newvision.co.ug. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  9. ^ a b "Boxing sisters' dream made in Katanga Slum". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  10. ^ "Female Boxers Fight to Survive in Ugandan Capital Slum | Voice of America - English". www.voanews.com. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  11. ^ "Sisters Pioneer Women's Boxing in Uganda". Global Press Journal. 2015-09-07. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  12. ^ "Ugandan Women Put On Their Boxing Gloves | Inter Press Service". www.ipsnews.net. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  13. ^ "The queens of sport: Earning their place at the table of men". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 2020-03-26.