Kenya Taekwondo Federation appeals for Ogallo's Olympic wild-card spot

Kenya Taekwondo Federation (KTF) has officially appealed to the world body to award Faith Ogallo a wild card so that she can take part in this year’s Olympic games.

Ogallo was knocked out due to a technicality during the qualifiers held in Dakar, Senegal this month.

She was among five Kenyan athletes who were locked out of the qualifiers after arriving late for the weigh in.

According to KTF Secretary General George Wesonga, Ogallos’s fate now lies with the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) President.

“We have written to the WTF boss since he has several wild cards and has the discretion to award them to whomever he wishes.

"Ogolla deserves it given her performance in the past,” he said.

Wesonga said he believes Ogallo is capable of winning a medal at the Olympic games if she gets a chance to participate.

“With good preparations she is capable of clinching a medal at the summer games and we are determined to ensure she prepares well if she gets that opportunity,” added Wesonga.

Wesonga was quoted by Daily Nation this week complaining how the Kenyan team had been frustrated from taking part in the qualifiers after arriving late for the weigh in.

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“The name of Faith Ogallo in the heavyweight category was missing and we raised the issue and tried to appeal to have her included in the draw to no avail.

“The technical team instead asked other team officials if it was okay to include the Kenyan representative and only Morocco declined and with that the feat of Ogallo was sealed,” Wesonga said.

Apart from Ogallo four other Kenyans were also locked out of the competition despite traveling to Dakar.

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They include: Innocent Wafula Patrick Lolkalipai, Peter Kabani and Joseph Owino.

Two others Stency Weema and Julieta Lemuye qualified for the Olympic games as they were the only participants in their categories.