Paralympics team get sponsorship as selection is made in readiness for Rio Games

Chairperson Kenya National Paralympic Federation Agnes Oluoch (centre) after receiving a dummy cheque worth Shs5Million from Joseph Ogutu Director Strategy and Innovation at Safaricom accompanied by Harun Komen on her (left) Director administration ministry of Arts and Culture during the Kenya National Paralympic Team Send-off at South C in Nairobi on Wednesday, August 10, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

The Kenya Paralympics team that will travel to the Rio Games will have 18 athletes including triple world record holder Henry Kirwa, Samuel Muchai, Wilson Bii, team captain James Magerer, para-rower Timoi Kipelian, power lifter Gabriel Magu and Lenny Nasimiyu.

Nasimiyu will be making a comeback to the Paralympics Games after a knee injury ruled him out of the London 2012 games. She hopes to impress in Rio in order to clinch her maiden title in the 1,500m T13 race.

“I have been training well since a serious knee injury in 2008. I have struggled with that injury for the past four years but now I am fully fit and confident that I can win my first Paralympics medal in Rio,” she said.

Yesterday, the team received a major boost of Sh3.5 million from Mayfair Holding Ltd ahead of their departure for Rio.

The sponsorship deal comes a week after Safaricom donated Sh5 million to the team’s kitty while the Government, through the Ministry of Sports, has given the team Sh130 million shillings.

Kenya National Paralympics Committee chairperson Agnes Flora Oluoch reiterated the team’s desire to perform well and thanked Mayfair Holding Ltd for their contribution ahead of the games.

 

BRING MEDALS

“The first group leaves on August 25 and the second batch on September 1. I am sure the team will perform well at the games. We want to bring medals home and do even better than London 2012," said Oluoch.

“I also want to thank Mayfair Holdings for their support. It is a great boost for the team,” she added.

Chef de Mission Kamau Maina insists the team’s preparations are in top gear and everything is in place ahead of the games. He is confident of a good performance in Rio.

“Everything is in place. The Government has given the team all the support it deserves. We have also learnt from what has happened in the Olympics and I promise that will not be the case for the Paralympics team," he said.

Kamau expressed optimism that everything will go as planned because the athletes are focused on winning their respective events and have received the support they need to do just that.