Sandford Otundo leads Kenyan team to Olympic qualifiers in India

Captain Air Rifle team Sanford Otundo training at Sailors Club. March 10, 2021. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

The 2011 UK Bisley Target Rifle gold medalist Sandford Otundo is among eight sharp-shooters who will leave for India next week for the shooting World Cup that will also act as Tokyo 2021 Olympics qualifiers.

It will be the second time that the national team captain will be trying his luck and bag a ticket to the Summer Games after his failed attempt in Algeria in 2019.

“I’m glad to have another chance. I have trained well and hope to post good results,” Otundo said when the National Olympics Committee -Kenya (NOC) flagged off the contingent in Nairobi on Wednesday.

The World Cup will take place on March 17-29 and only top finishers in the different categories will book slots for the Olympics.

The World Cup will take place on March 17-29. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Ahead of the global showpiece, the father of three has been upping his training programme.

“I know this is not enough when compared with our rivals in Egypt and Europe, but nonetheless, I’m hopeful of posting good results. I’m looking forward to top my category or to improve on my fourth-place finish in Algeria two years ago,” the 37-year-old police officer said.

While in India, Kenya will be represented in four major contests whose winners will book Olympic slots.

Maurice Morara and David Kirui will engage in the challenging pistol contests, while Otundo, Gurupreet Dhanjal, Pricila Wangoi and Gulraaj Sehmi will battle in the air rifle.