Kenya hauls more medals in African Gala

By Oscar Pilipili

Rebecca Kamau, 10, has been bitten by the swimming bug.

The prodigy has always shown tremendous promise in the pool and she at last realised her dream after winning three gold medals at Confederation of African Swimming (Cana) Age-group Championships.

On the second day of the gala yesterday, the Braeburn School athlete clocked 39.85 seconds to win girls’ under-10 50m backstroke and bag her third gold at the Championships.

Kamau bagged two gold medals on the first day after she won 100m backststroke and 50m butterfly at Moi International Sports Centre Aquatic Stadium on Friday.

Swimmers prepare to dive to the pool in a backstroke race at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani gymnasium, Saturday.

[PHOTO: STAFFORD ONDEGO/STANDARD]

Kamau school mate, Gaurav Kotecha, recorded his third medal of the Championship with a bronze in the boys’ under-10 50m backstroke (40.88) that was won by another promising Kenyan Emmanuel Ndonga in 39.75.

Slow start

Kotecha, who clinched two gold medals on the opening day, said: "The medals are a result of hard work because I have been training twice a day including an 8km run."

Kotecha was tipped to clinch gold in the 50m backstroke, but he had a slow start and failed to recover as Ndonga cruised to victory.

He said: "I slipped on my leg and couldn’t go deep enough to start faster. When I finished I was disappointed I came third."

Medals galore

Kotecha said he hope to atone for the miss by winning at least two gold medals out of his three events – 100m freestyle, 200m individual medley and 100m breaststroke- that are remaining.

Kenya continued to impress on the second day of the gala, winning 12 medals including six gold, three silver and three bronze event number 63.

The gold medalists were: Daniella Awori (200m breaststroke, 50m backstroke), Martha Opiyo (100m butterfly), Kamau (50m backstroke), Emmanuel Ndonga (50m backstroke) and Silvia Brunlehner (50m backstroke).

Silver medals came from Micah Fernandez (200m breaststroke), Shivraj Vaghela (100m butterfly) and Michael Teja (100m butterfly). Bronze medalists on the second day of the show were Kotecha (50m backstroke) and Talissa Lanoe (50m backstroke).

It was a deserved consistency for host swimmers who started off the campaign on a right footing winning 11 medals (eight gold, one silver and three bronze) on the opening day of the event.

Team manager Fakry Mansoor attributed the exemplary performance to a large entry of swimmers.

Mansoor said: "We’ve never entered such a big number of players in this event before and what I can add on is that the home ground advantage has really worked in our favour."

Kenya team was standing second overall with 40 medals (15-8-10) behind leaders Mauritius who had gathered 32 (15-8-10) through event number 64.

Zimbabwe were third on 40 (13-14-13) followed by defending champions South Africa on 31 (13-10-8).

The hosts’ women team was perched at the top of the table standings with 19 medals (9-3-7) followed by South Africa on 18 (8-6-4) through 64.

In general, no one country has dominated the Championships as the contest is very tight.

Mansoor said: "The Championships are closely contested that only the last event will determine the winner."