Heroes welcome for Paralympics team

By Rebecca Gichana

Paralympics 1,500m (T46) champion Abraham Tarbei has promised to do more to fend off emerging competition in future games.

Tarbei, the world record holder (3:50.15), was among the Paralympians who jetted in the country from London on Tuesday from the just concluded Paralympic Games. Tarbei improved his record by almost three seconds. The old mark stood at 3:52.50.

“In China I won three medals but this year was different because there was a lot competition from everywhere. Everybody who took part in the Paralympics was well prepared. I managed to break my own record from the All Africa Games championships and for me this is a major achievement,” said Tarbei.

Tarbei, who won two gold medals in the 2008 summer Paralympics in the 1500m T46 and 5000m T46 categories, took part in the 800m (T46) event and won silver and also defended his 1500m (T46) title.

“I had one thing in my mind when I landed in London, to defend my 1500m title though I knew it was not an easy task. I am very happy I was able to defend it and I will continue defending it through hard training.

“I never took part in the 5,000m T46 category that I won in the last Paralympic games because there was no category of the same,” added Tarbei.

Tarbei was brought down by a Rwandese athlete in the finals of 800m (T46) finals was happy with the decision to get the medal.

“I was very disappointed because I was in a good position to get a medal by the time that athlete brought me down. I knew that I was to get the medal by the end of the race because I deserved it. In future I will be keen to run my own race to avoid such occurrences,” said Tarbei.

His teammate Mary Nakhumicha Zakayo, who was awarded the Whang Youn Dai achievement Award by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), was a happy woman saying that this will act as motivator in her life to continue doing more for the country in the coming championships.

“I never knew that I can win such a prestigious award among the 4,000 athletes that took part in the championship. I am very honoured and this will be my motivator to continue flying the Kenyan flag high in future,” said Zakayo.

Zakayo, who was taking part in the shot put F57 and javelin, was honoured for changing the face of Paralympic sport in Africa.

“It was never easier for me during the championships but I am happy and I thank God for the award,” added Zakayo.

Kenya will be eying to return to the games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 with a bigger squad. In Beijing, China in 2008, Kenya wound up in position 27 with nine medals — Five gold, three silver and one bronze.