Brilliant Show

By Gilbert Wandera in

Maputo, Mozambique

Glady's Mwaniki won her first round Tae Kwon Do match against Nigerian Obi Ojamum 14-7 on Thursday as the event entered its second day in the on-going All-Africa Games in Maputo.

Kenya claimed two bronze medals in the event on the first day with Sarah Njoki defying more than six days of travel by road to the games to claim bronze for the country.

The Sports Council had threatened to bar Njoki from taking to the ring since she was not part of the Kenyan contingent to this game, but she defied the threat and made it all the way to the semi-finals but was stopped by Grace Ibogni from Gabon 4-7.

After the loss, she had to settle for bronze and so did Stephen Karuga after who lost to Mohammed Mahmoud of Algeria 5-6.

In athletics, Kenneth Kipkemboi won silver in the men’s half marathon as the athletics programme of the All-Africa Games concluded in Maputo on Thursday.

Kipkemboi clocked 1:04:44 to snatch silver in a race won by Ethiopian Lelissa Desisa who posted 1:04:31. Another Ethiopian Bekana Daba took bronze in 1:04:51.

Major improvement

The other Kenyan in the race, Leonard Kipkoech, finished fourth in 1:05:02.

Thursday’s silver medal was a major improvement for Kipkemboi who failed to finish on the podium in the men’s 10,000m after failing to match the determined Ethiopians.

He showed determination to shake off his opponents only failing in the last stretch.

Kipkemboi stayed close to his Ethiopian opponent until the end, only for the winner to kick upon entering the stadium and he had to settle for second place as the pace was too much for him.

"The course was good but the weather was harsh. It slowed me down," said the silver medallist.

The Kenyan women failed to finish within the medal bracket in a race dominated by the Ethiopians. Peninah Arusei was the best placed Kenyan, finishing fourth.

Lost again

Ethiopia’s Mare Dibaba won the race in 1:10:47, while her countrywoman Mamitu Daska raced to second place in1:10:52.

Nambia’s Hilalia Johannes(1:11:12) took bronze.

The other Kenyan in the race Sarah Chepchirchir faded to fifth place in 1:12:39.

Pauline Korikwiang claimed bronze in the women’s 10,000m final which was won by Sule Utura Gedo in a time of 33:24.82. Korikwang clocked 3:26.17

In handball, the national women’s team lost for the second time in a row after going down 33-12 to a sharp Democratic Republic of Congo side in a match that was to determine the fifth and sixth placed teams.

Congo led 15-9 at half time and were helped by Mwasesa Mwange and Lifaefi Otono who were too good for the Kenyan defence as they scored at will.

On Wednesday, the handball team lost their quater-final match after going down 16-31 to Cameroon.

In tennis, Kenya’s quest for a medal in the doubles ended on Thursday after both double’s teams lost their matches.

Everlyne Otula and Veronica Osogo went down 6-0, 6-0 to Ones Jabeur and Sofiane Dob, while Caroline Oduor and Michelle Onyancha lost to Magy Mikhail and Maiar Abdelaziz of Egypt 6-3, 6-1.

Related Topics

Tae kwon do maputo