Windhoek: Namibia's boxers have made an encouraging start to their Commonwealth Games campaign in Glasgow, with two of the three fighters having booked their places in the next round. Team Namibia, represented by five boxers, saw Philip Haoseb, Tryagain Morning Ndevelo, and heavyweight Petrus Jacobus Kotze open their campaigns as they began their quest for medals.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Haoseb has been one of the standout performers, progressing from the round of 32 through to the quarter-finals in his maiden Commonwealth Games appearance. Speaking to Nampa on Sunday, after his stoppage win against Charif Yaya of Togo, the Namibian boxer expressed his delight at reaching the last eight. 'I feel great. I can't thank anyone else but the Heavenly Father; that's the only one I can thank right now,' he said.

With boxing among Namibia's most successful sports at previous Commonwealth Games, Haoseb said the country's resilience had helped him settle into the tournament. 'I said it before, and I'm going to say it again, I'm a Namibian, we adapt to anything. The first fights are just about adapting and seeing how things go, and from now on we are just taking everything out,' he said. He added that it doesn't get easier in the competition, 'but with God it will be much better.'

Veteran boxer Ndevelo, competing at his third Commonwealth Games, also celebrated a significant milestone after advancing to the next round without throwing a punch, following his opponent's late showing to the ring. 'I know the process, and this is the third time I am in this competition. Last time I was eliminated in this round, so to pass to the next round without exchanging punches makes me very happy,' he said. The experienced Namibian said he is already focused on the challenge ahead. 'I will now rest and prepare for my next opponent, who did not see me in the ring and was probably coming to see what I can do. We will meet in the next round, where I will be ready to fly my country's flag high,' Ndevelo said.

While Haoseb and Ndevelo celebrated their progress, it was a bittersweet outing for Commonwealth Games debutant Kotze. The heavyweight's campaign came to an early end after suffering a second-round knockout defeat to Wales' Connor Williams on Sunday night. Four Namibian boxers remain in contention. Gebhard Tonateni Ipinge is scheduled to make his Games debut on Monday night against Australia's Paul Trainor, while Ndevelo returns to the ring to face Bangladesh's Md Ruhin Reza. Namibia's only female boxer, Mischa Monique Araes, is expected to make her Commonwealth Games debut on Wednesday. Her opponent is yet to be confirmed.