Female Boxer Secures Student Prestige Sports Scholarship

Female Boxer Secures Student Prestige Sports Scholarship

Law student Ms Khululekile Cele started boxing for fun but having done so well in earning a Prestige Sports Scholarship she’s taking her time in the ring far more seriously these days.

‘I was in Grade 10 when I decided to take up boxing,’ said Cele. ‘I was simply doing it for fun until I took part in a competition in Pietermaritzburg. It was my first fight and I was chosen as the best boxer in my division at that tournament. I was honestly astonished,’ said Cele.

Building on that success, Cele of Port Shepstone continued competing and winning fights provincially and nationally right through high school. Fast-forward to today and Cele is the University Sports South Africa (USSA) Women’s 60kg Boxing Champion.

‘I competed in the USSA games in 2021 and not only won all my fights but also got the award for the best bout in my division – lightweight (60kg) – and was subsequently selected to represent South Africa overseas at Samsun in Turkiye at the International University Sports Federation at Ondokuz Mayis University last year. It was because of this achievement that UKZN recognised me and granted me a scholarship,’ said Cele.

Excelling in boxing is Cele’s passion but so is graduating with a Law degree and opening her own law firm

Securing a scholarship is validation that her hard work in and out of the ring is paying off.

‘I want to be an African legal practitioner, a boxer and a businesswoman – with this scholarship, anything is possible for me,’ said Cele. ‘It will change my life by reducing the financial burden of university education, allowing me to focus on my studies rather than having to do part-time work. For me it’s not just about receiving money, rather it tells me that I am seen – especially by my family who have supported me from the beginning – as having potential and that my hard work has really paid off.’

Words: Thandiwe Jumo

Photograph: Supplied