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L. MathekaEtyang finally gets his chance to don the Kenyan colours
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 09.08.21. | 10:03
The competition is open to participants under the age of 20 by December 31, 2021
Teenager Kamar Etyang will be part of Team Kenya’s contingent to the World Athletics under-20 Championship set for August 17-22 at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
The Peter Bii-coached athlete shot into the limelight after qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics in 1500m in second place behind Charles Simotwo and ahead of Abel Kipsang and race favourite World champions and Olympics silver medalist Timothy Cheruiyot.
His inability to represent the country at the Games, having not achieved Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) requirements for three out-of-competition and one in-competition doping test played out in the public, but in the end, the law had its way.
I had a chat with world champion Timothy Cheruiyot and youngster Kamar Etyang.
— BARNABA KORIR OFFICIAL (@KorirOfficial) July 22, 2021
In a rare display of sportsmanship, Etyang wished Cheruiyot a successful outing at the Tokyo Games backing him to win gold for Kenya. pic.twitter.com/ZAVGBCZSpK
It has now been confirmed, Emmanuel Lemama, who placed second during the World Under-20 national trials last month has been replaced by Etiang in the men's 1,500m race.
“Lemama requested to be replaced after sustaining an injury. We assessed the situation and therefore saw it fit to replace him with Etiang who was unlucky not to represent Kenya at the Tokyo Games,” confirmed Athletics Kenya (AK) Youth Development Committee chairman Barnaba Korir as the team was handed their kits on Sunday 8 August 2021.
The Matter of Kamar Etyang has been brought to our attention.
— TeamKenya (@OlympicsKe) July 4, 2021
The athlete is currently in the residential bubble camp and continues to train.#TeamKenya pic.twitter.com/VRXU6g4Uh0
Etyang who stayed in camp with the Tokyo Olympics squad despite being replaced by Cheruiyot is set to join the Under-20 team on Monday 9 August 2021, just a week to the Championship.
“I have been training in Iten since leaving the Olympics camp and I am still in good form. I had made peace with the fact that I was not going to represent my country in Tokyo so my inclusion in the Under-20 team is a welcome move. I am excited to don the Kenyan colours for the first time and I will fight for a podium finish,” said Etyang.
The youngster’s first chance to represent the country came after he made the cross country team for the African event that was set for Togo but later postponed. He has not had much experience on the international scene. His only race outside the country was in Uganda during one of the country’s meets where he placed second.
