Deaflympics: Ambitious Kenya out to defy underdog tag in Tokyo
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 09.10.25. | 07:45
They are in Group “A” alongside giants Italy, the United States of America and the hosts Japan
Kenya's women’s deaf volleyball team has set itself an ambitious target of clinching a medal at the upcoming Tokyo 2025 Summer Deaflympics in Japan, despite being drawn in a tough pool for the quadrennial multi-sport event scheduled for 15 to 26 November.
Women’s volleyball is among the seven disciplines where Kenya will be making its debut at the Deaflympics, along with tennis, table tennis, cycling, swimming, bowling, and badminton.
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Kenya was handed a wild card in the women’s volleyball owing to their top position in Africa, and have been placed in Group “A” alongside giants Italy, the United States of America, and the hosts Japan.
Group “B”, on the other hand, consists of Turkey, Ukraine, Brazil, and Canada.
Gauging the level of opposition, Kenya’s head coach Alborn Ouma has vowed that his girls will upset the giants, singling out Italy as their main threat.
“We are with Italy, Japan, and the USA in the same pool. I know those are the powerhouses of volleyball, but we are up to the task, and we promise that we are going there not as underdogs, but to bring back a medal," Ouma said, reflecting on the performances of Malkia Strikers at this year's FIVB World Women's Volleyball Championship.
“It is possible. The hearing team, Malkia Strikers, have done it and proved it by beating Vietnam in Poland," he said. "We are in the same shoes, and we have to go for the best in Japan.
So far, Italy is good. I have been following up on their play. They are doing well, but it is the field that decides. It is not about the name. We are going to the competition knowing that we are also good. Kenya has a name and we have to protect it anywhere we go,” added the coach.
Team captain Hannah Wambui echoed Ouma's sentiments, saying: “The training has been good. We are just aiming for gold so that we can make our country proud."
Ahead of the residential camp planned for later this month, the team of 29 players have been training twice a week at either Nyayo or at the University of Nairobi, and it is expected that the squad will be trimmed down to 14.
The players were selected during the trials held last month in Nairobi, which attracted eight teams from across the country.
In addition to participating in several tournaments, the team has also been playing against their male counterparts, who feature in the Kenya Volleyball Federation Division Two League.
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Simon Adem, chairman of Kenya Deaf Volleyball Federation, expressed delight that finally the country will be competing in the Deaflympics.
“We founded this team in 2013. It has been a long journey, but we are happy that finally it will be competing in the Deaflympics,” said Adem.
“The team is good, and there is improvement in there. We have seen the way our hearing counterparts have been improving, and we aim to be on the same level. We are encouraging our team to make sure that they perform very well in Tokyo. I know that it is not easy, but we are aiming to bring home a medal,” he added.
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