Paris Olympics: Malkia Strikers out for sole win in final pool game

Kenya women’s volleyball team Malkia Strikers will have all to fight for as they face Japan in their final Pool B fixture of the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the South Paris Arena on Saturday afternoon.

The match will be beamed live on Kenya's state broadcaster KBC and Supersport.

The ten-time African champions have had a poor start to the Summer Games, going down in all their contests this week, and will hope to finally nick their first-ever win at the competition, whilst avoiding an early exit.

Malkia began their participation in France on Monday 29 July with a 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-12) defeat to second-seeded Brazil, before falling by an almost similar margin 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-15) in their second game against Poland on Wednesday.

In front of them on Saturday will be seventh seeds Japan, who won Olympic gold in their debut at the 1964 Games.

Paris 2024: Heartbreak for Malkia Strikers as Poland condemns Kenya to second Olympic defeat

As per the competition criteria, Kenya’s only chance of progressing through to the semifinals will be by being the two best third-ranked teams, joining up with the top two ranked nations in each group.

Brazil and Poland with their two wins, are virtually through in Pool B, and thus much onus on Kenya against Japan, also winless, but with a better point ratio.

On head-to-head, Kenya has faced off the 2022 Asian Cup gold medalists thrice, winning twice.

The game serves off at 1400 EAT.