High scores for sports in 2018

Shujaa Pride

The Ministry of Sports has released the 2018 performance report that details a number of achievements in various categories during the year.

Generally, 2018 was a remarkable year for Kenyan Sports, according to the report by Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Achesa, released on Saturday in Nairobi.

Key highlights of the year include streamlining cricket, re-joining the prestigious World Rally Championship Circuit and winning the bid to host 2022 IAAF World Championships.

He said the ministry upgraded a number sport facilities including refurbishing of Nyayo National Stadium. Other regional stadiums at various stages of refurbishment are Kamariny Stadium (at 45% completion), Chuka  Stadium (75% completion), Karatu-Ndarugu (30% completion) as well as Marsabit and Wote stadia which are at 48% 25% completion respectively.

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge crosses the line to win the Berlin Marathon in record time

“We have managed to set up a caretaker committee for cricket Kenya that will ensure elections will be held within the next three months in strict conformity to the provisions of the Sports Act,” Mr Achesa said.

He said the ministry successfully mediated the infighting in the Cricket Kenya Board and now both parties have dropped the cases in court. He said consequently Kenya will in March this year host a major cricket tournament bringing together 11 of the leading cricket playing nations.

After sustained lobbying and negotiations, the Kenyan Safari Rally has re-joined the prestigious World Rally Championship Circuit, Achesa said. The competition circuit was last held in Kenya way back in 2002.

On the Safari Rally, he said: “We are now scheduled to host the Safari Rally under the World Rally Championship in April, putting us back in the Rallying World Map.”

Meanwhile, he said, the stalemate at the Boxing Association of Kenya that had dogged the sport for years has been resolved.  The factions have each nominated three individuals to sit in the care taker committee for six months pending the elections of officials.

Sporting highlights of 2018

•    In 2018, two momentous sporting events reaffirmed Kenya’s status as the world’s leading long and middle distance running nation. Kenya topped the medal standings during the IAAF World Under 20 Championships in Tampere, Finland in July 2018 for the fourth time in the events history, winning 11 medals in total; 6 Gold, 4 Silver and 1 bronze.

•    Kenya replicated the feat, topping the medal standings during the 21st African Senior Athletics Championships in Asaba, Nigeria, in August 2018 winning 19 meals in total; 11 gold 6 silver and 2 bronze.

•    In September 2018 Kenya’s own Eliud Kipchoge broke the marathon world record at the Berlin Marathon in a time of 2hours, 1 minute and 39 seconds becoming the greatest marathoner of all time and went ahead to win the prestigious IAAF world athlete of the year 2018 award.

•    Beatrice Chepkoech broke the Women’s 3000m steeplechase world record in Monte Carlo in a time of 8 minutes 44.32 seconds. On 9th September 2018, Kenyas Fatuma Zarika retained her World Boxing Council (WBC) female Super Bantam weight title by defeating the much hyped Mexican Yamilet Mercado.

•    In 2018, Harambee Stars also qualified for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals to be held in Cameroon in 2019. The last time Kenya qualified was way back in 2004.

•    The Kenya Rugby Sevens Team (Shujaa) also qualified and participated in the rugby sevens world cup held in San Francisco in July 2018.