Kenyan Deaf basketball sides land familiar foes in world extravaganza

Kenya Basketball deaf teams, currently camping at Kasarini Stadium ahead of the 2022 Deaflympics set for 1 to 15 May in Caxias do Sul, Brazil have landed tough opposition in a draw conducted on Monday, 11 April.

The women’s team have been placed in group B which has 2019 Deaflympics bronze medalists USA, fourth-ranked Turkey who also placed fourth in 2019 at the global showpiece, 2019 silver medalists Lithuania and sixth-ranked Ukraine in the nine-time competition.

Deaflympics team challenged to surpass medal haul in Brazil

Group A has hosts Brazil, 2019 World Deaf Basketball Championship (WDBC) gold medalist and top-ranked Greece, third-ranked Italy who finished in sixth place in 2019 and eighth-ranked Poland who managed fifth in 2019.

The Kenyan women are in familiar territory as the East African side and continental champions played three of the four teams they have been pooled against during the 2017 Deaflympics.

Kenya ranked ninth globally, finished eighth during the 2017 Deaflympics showpiece where they faced Turkey who finished fifth, silver medalists Lithuania and Ukraine who lost to Italy in the third-place match. Greece won gold at the Deaflympics in 2017.

“Preparations are in top gear for both teams. We have 20 players for each gender in camp and the number will be whittled down to 12 by next week as travel dates have been set for 20 April. The technical benches are working round the clock to ensure the players are ready.

Kenya Basketball, football sides earn tickets to Deaflympics

We have also ensured the players get to put what they learn in training into practice in friendly matches against Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and University of Nairobi sides,” offered the teams’ Technical Director Juma Kent.

The mean’s team, ranked 13th globally has landed in group A that has 2019 WDBC gold medalists USA, 11th ranked Israel, 2017 fifth-place finishers Argentina, ranked sixth globally and eighth-ranked Poland who finished ninth in 2017. 

Group B has 2017 champions Lithuania, hosts Brazil, 2017 fourth-placed Greece, silver medalists Venezuela, Chinese Taipei who placed 11th in the last Deaflympics and 2017 bronze medalists Ukraine.

“We are working on having better performances for both teams. Travelling to Brazil early will help the athletes acclimatize which is crucial fo9r good performance,” added Kent.