Paralympians fight for Sixth International Athletics Meet slots

By ERICK OCHIENG’

The Kenya National Paralympics Committee (KNPC) yesterday held its national Paralympics selections for athletes who will represent Kenya at the Sixth International Athletics Meet in Tunisia later this month (March).

The Tunisia trials are scheduled for March 22-29 and will see those who qualify represent their countries at the London Olympics as from July.

Categories contested on Monday at the national trials at Nyayo National Stadium are the Mentally Handicapped, Cerebral Palsy, Visually Impaired and Physically Handicapped athletes.

"We are using the London Olympics minimum qualifying standards for the event and we hope more Kenyan athletes will register the Olympics qualifying mark in Tunisia," said Ronald Milare, Secretary General KNPC.

The national trials saw athletes from seven provinces represented at the event, save for North Eastern Province.

Milare said they did not receive any response from the North Eastern region although communication was relayed to them.

23 athletes

Kenya pans to take a contingent of 23 athletes including five officials to Tunisia, where the country hopes to get 17 athletes qualifying for London Games. The final list will be unveiled at the end of the trials on Tuesday.

"Already 17 other athletes have achieved London Olympics mark in their categories after qualifying last year in New Zealand," Milare told FeverPitch.

Meanwhile, Kenyan Paralympics team has received a Sh7.5 million boost from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs.

Part of the money is being used at the national trials. The money will also aid the team during residential camp besides during trip to Tunisia.