.jpg)
Star-studded line ups for SOYA nominees under Persons Living with a Disability categories
.jpg)
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 06.01.22. | 20:44
The awards were initially set for January 19 but they take place on January 25 owing to some logistical issues
Tokyo Paralympics women’s 1500m T11 bronze medallist Nancy Chelangat and double World Deaf Athletics champion Simon Cherono Kibai are among the nominees for 2021 SOYA Sportsmen and Women Living with a Disability in line-ups that are star-studded.
The 5000m Deaflympics record holder will battle it out with four Paralympians in Erick Sang, Felix Kipruto, Wilson Bii, and Rodgers Kiprop.
He won the 10000m and 5000m titles at the Fourth World Deaf Athletics Championships held at the Lublin Athletics Stadium in Poland, in August last year.
Sang and Kipruto represented Kenya at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games while Bii won silver in 1500m at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai in February, as Kiprop captained the Kenyan team in Tokyo, clocking a Personal Best of 15:27.06 but missed a podium finish to finish fourth in the men’s 5000m T11 final.
SOYA Sportsman Living with a disability nominees are;
— SOYAAwardsOfficial (@AwardsSoya) January 6, 2022
Erick Sang - Paralympian
Simon Kibai - Deaf Athlete
Felix Kipruto - Paralympian
Wilson Bii - Paralympian
Rodgers Kiprop - Paralympian#SoyaAwards2021 pic.twitter.com/SzkneO4th4
In the women's categories, Chelangat will face off with power-lifter Hellen Wawira, rower Asiya Sururu, and sprinter Berly Atieno.
Chelangat was the only athlete who won a medal for Kenya at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games with bronze in the T11 1500m clocking 4:45.58.
She had earlier clinched two gold medals at the Dubai Para Athletics Grand Prix, leading Mary Waithera to a 1-2 finish where she clocked 4:57.51 before sealing a double with victory in the 400m.
Wawira was the first Kenyan female powerlifter to grace the Tokyo Paralympic Games where she ended up fifth overall in the 41 kilograms category, with an attempt of 93kg.
SOYA Sportswoman Living with a Disability nominees;
— SOYAAwardsOfficial (@AwardsSoya) January 6, 2022
Hellen Wawira – Power-lifter
Nancy Chelangat – Paralympian
Asiya Sururu – Para-rower
Berly Atieno -Deaf Athlete#SoyaAwards2021 pic.twitter.com/JwQQpX46Sw
Sururu became the first female rower to the Paralympic Games where she finished 10th on 14:27.48 seconds in the single sculls in Tokyo.
Atieno took home silver in the women’s 200m clocking 25.42 seconds at the World Deaf Athletics Championship in Poland, finishing behind Katsiaryna Zhurbenkova from Belarus in 25 .19.
The winners will be announced during the 2021 Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA) on January 25 at the Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega.
.jpg)
