Commonwealth Games: Shooting, cycling and wrestling need to do home work

Kenya's Christine Ongare is punched by Northern Ireland's Carly McNaul during their women's 51kg semi-final boxing match during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games at the Oxenford Studios venue on the Gold Coast on April 13, 2018. / AFP PHOTO

Apart from athletics, there is still huge ground to cover in other disciplines.

Kenya team travel back home with tough lessons from Down Under — on how to protect middle and long distance running turf.

National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) and federations must get back to drawing board and come up with strategies to win medals in the 15 sports disciplines entered in Commonwealth Games.

Apart from track athletes and boxer Christine Ongare, who bagged bronze in the 51kg weight category, other sports disciplines failed to win medals.

Kenya won gold medal courtesy of Elijah Manangoi (1,500m, the team captain), Wycliffe Kinyamal (800m), Conseslus Kipruto (3,000m steeplechase) and Helen Obiri (5,000m). 

Silver medallists were Celliphine Chepteek (3,000m SC), Margaret Nyairera, Timothy  Cheruiyot (1,500m), Margaret Chelimo (5,000m), Abraham Kibiwott (3,000m SC) and Stacy Ndiwa (10,000m) and Beatrice Chepkoech (1,500m)

Rodgers Kwemoi (10,000m), Edward Zakayo (5,000m), Amos Kirui (3,000m SC), Samuel Gathimba (20km walk), Purity Cherotich (3,000m steeplechase) and Christine Ongare (boxing) delivered bronz.

It was a sad moment for Kenya to lose the women 3,000m steeplechase title to Jamaican Aisha Praught and the invasion by Ugandans Joshua Cheptegei (5,000m and 10,000m) and Stella Chelangat in 10,000m.

It was horrifying to watch boxer Benson Gicharu bleeding after he was severely boxed in the first round.

Shaffi Bakari proceeded to quarters while other boxers bid the games bye at the initial stages.

Although they boast vast experience in the ring, Elly Ajowi (91kg), Nick Abaka (81kg), Benson Gicharu (56kg) and Nick Okoth (60kg) could not take the heat inside the hall.

In badminton, Mercy Joseph and Victor Odera exhibited good play, but Odera picked an injury before competing.

Eunice Wambui and Cephas Kiamwaki of lawn bowls as well as Brian Mutua and Sejal Thakkar of table tennis failed to sparkle.

Cycling, wrestling, shooting and para sports still need to do their homework as they just added to the numbers.

In rugby, the games format did not favour Shujaa, who won two matches and lost one. They finished eight after contesting in classification matches while women wound up sixth after beating Wales and South Africa.

Squash players were the biggest casualties while swimmers still complained of short notice as Khaaliqa Nimji and Hardeep Reel had selections issues until the last minute.

Swimmers Brunlehner sisters; Sylvia and Maria, Steven Kimani, Issa Abdulla  and Emmily Muteti claimed they had short notice in the call up to national team.