Kenya double contingent to Africa Youth Games

By JONATHAN KOMEN

Junior athletes compete in a past schools championships in Nairobi. [PHOTO: JENNIPHER WACHIE/STANDARD]

National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) will send 128 athletes to the second Africa Youth Games that runs from May 28–31 in Gaborone, Botswana.

This is double the number — 54 athletes and 18 officials —  that represented Kenya in the inaugural Youth Games in Rabat, Morocco, in 2010.

The team, which has  Nock Treasurer Fridah Shiroya as the Chief de Mission will have 57 officials from the 16 disciplines.

In 2010, Kenya sent athletes from 10 federations to Morocco and bagged 16 medals. They included one gold medal from William Mutunga Mbevi in 400m hurdles and 10 silver medals.

Shiroya said the team will begin residential camp on Monday at various training grounds in Nairobi and others areas.

“We will have several training venues in Nairobi and outside depending on the discipline. Those unable to train here will do so in their places,” said Shiroya.

Track and field will enter 30 athletes and two officials; Badminton six players and two officials; basketball eight and three officials; boxing five and two officials; cycling-mountain seven participants (three boys and two girls) plus two officials.

Cycling-route seven riders (four boys and three girls) and three officials and golf will have four players and two officials.

Also making the team are four judokas and two officials; 12 in Karate and five officials; 12 netballers and five officials and one rower.

Others who will get prized tickets to Botswana include eight swimmers and three officials, two table tennis players and one official; six in tae kwon do and two officials; four in tennis and two officials; four in triathlon and two officials; 12 volleyball girls team and five officials and one in weightlifting and a single official.

Stephen arap Soi, the Commonwealth Games Chief de Mission, said they had monitored the selections and refuted claims segregation was rife in shooting team.

“There is nothing like that. In fact they are working on British Visitors Firearm Licence, since the shipment will not be allowed through the United Kingdom boarders without it,” he said.

The first batch of the team will leave the country on July 13 and will be followed by three other batches.

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