Peruvian fighter Kina Malpartida Disay was awarded the Sports Laurels, Peru’s highest sports award, for winning the WBA super featherweight title in the United States last month. The Peruvian champion received the award during a ceremony attended by President Alan Garcia, Education Minister Jose Antonio Chang, Peruvian Sports Institute (IPD) president Arturo Woodman and a group of relatives and friends.

“I feel very happy and I have to continue working hard to keep winning. I am proud of being Peruvian,” said Kina Malpartida in a brief speech at the Government Palace in Lima.

The 28-year-old boxing champ, who won the WBA super featherweight title against Maureen Shea at Madison Square Garden, added that she is proud of receiving the Sports Laurels because it is an award coveted by all Peruvian athletes.The Peruvian fighter told young Peruvian athletes to never give up on their goals and thank for all the things they have.”I have learned in recent days that we should never think about what we lack, but we need to be more thankful for what we have,” noted Malpartida.

In addition, Kina Malpartida said she will defend her world title anywhere in the world. “It would be nice to defend my title here in Peru, but anyway, I don’t care because I’ll be a Peruvian champ anywhere” she said.