Deaflympics: Grand welcome in the offing for Team Kenya after a fruitful outing in Brazil

The government will accord the triumphant Kenya Deaflympics team a heroes reception for finishing 10th overall in the 24th Summer Deaflympics 2021 games in Caxias Do Sul, Brazil.

Principal Secretary State Department for Culture and Heritage in the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage Josephta Mukobe who is leading the Kenyan contingent said the government will marshall resources to ensure the exemplary performance is celebrated.

"Congratulations Team Kenya, you are heroes. I am going to ask the National Heroes Council to welcome you well as true heroes. Continue training and aiming for better performance in forthcoming activities," Mukobe.

Kenya clinched a total of 24 medals; 5 gold, 7 silver and 12 bronze to emerge first in Africa while Algeria was second with a paltry five medals. Ukraine topped the medal standings with 137 medals; 61 gold, 38 silver and 38 bronze.

This performance not only surpassed that of last edition held in Turkey in 2017 (16 medals!; 5 gold, 5 silver, 6 bronze), but is the best ever since the country first took part in the Games in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1997.

Kenya could have won more medals in the men and women marathon on the last day of the games on Sunday but the athletes were disqualified for lateness. The five marathoners arrived at the starting point a few minutes to the call time deadline and were barred from competing despite allegedly informing the race director of their predicament.

“This is a competition that we don’t miss a medal, we wanted to sweep all the medals. We failed to take part due to a technical hitch and miscommunication. We arrived at the venue just before the race started but we were told that we cannot be take part” said a disappointed Coach Samuel Kibet.

Grancy Kandagor bronze medalist in the 10,000m expressed disappointment saying she had prepared adequately for the race.

“I feel discouraged because I didn’t take part. I was ready for the marathon after racing in the 5,000m and 10,000m,” she said.

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Grancy was to tackle the 42km course with compatriot Serah Kimani. Peter Toroitich, Daniel Kiptum and David Kiptum were to fly the Kenyan flag in the men's category. Toroitich who won a silver medal in the 10,000m

“We arrived at the starting point,changed but we were told not to join the field. I have put the incident behind me and am calm," he lamented.

Mukobe termed the unexpected turn of events as a learning curve.

“As management we are taking this as a learning curve whereby in subsequent activities we are going to be very careful that we dont make small mistakes that are going to cost us medals. However we should not let what happened today dampen our spirits. We are number 10 in the world and number one in Africa out of 78 countries and that is a commendable achievement” she said.

The delayed 24th Summer Deaflympics began on Sunday May 1, 2022 and concluded on Sunday May15, 2022 with a coulorful closing ceremony at the Sesi Centro Esportivo indoor gym in the southern Brazilian city. Team Kenya is expected to return home in batches beginning Tuesday May 17, 2022.

Gold

1.Men 3000m Steeplechase-Lucas Wandia Wanjiru.

2.Men 10000m-Symon Cherono Kibai.

3.Men 5000m-Symon Cherono Kibai.

4.Men1500m- Ian Wambui Kahinga.

5.Men 800m- Elikana Kiprop Rono.

Silver

6. Mix 4X400 Relay (George Waweru Muthee, Linet Fwamba

Nanjala, Beryl Atieno Wamira and Isaac Atima Tongi).

7. Men 10000m- Peter Toroitich.

8. Women 10000m-Serah Wangari Kimani.

9. Women 1500m- Sharon Jeptarus Bitok.

10.Men 5000m- Ian Wambui Kahinga.

11.Women 800- Sharon Jeptarus Bitok.

12. Women 4x400m Relay (Beryl Atieno Wamira, Linet

Fwamba Nanjala, Pamela Atieno Atieno, Sharon Bitok

Jeptarus)

Bronze

13.Men 10000m- David Kipkogei.

14. Women 10000m- Grancy Kandagor.

15. Men Javelin- Kelvin Kipkogei.

16. Women 400m - Linet Fwamba Nanjala

17. Men Golf- Isaac Ogolla Makokha.

18. Men 3000m Steeplechase- Peter Omari Kokobi.

19. Women 3000m Steeplechase- Ann Njoki Wangeci

20.Women 200m- Beryl Atieno Wamira.

21.Women 4x100m Relay (Beryl Atieno Wamira,Rael Achieng

Wamira, Anzazi Chaka Nyundo and Linet Fwamba Nanjala).

22.Women 800m -Rebecca Matiko.

23. Women 5000m -Grancy Kendagor.

24.Men 4x400m Relay (Simon Menza Gona, Charles

Muthama Mwema, George Waweru Muthee, Isaac Atima

Tong’i)