Cruel Day Six for Kenya at GC2018 as swimmers bow out and boxers lose

Kenya’s participation in the swimming events at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia came to a crashing end after the last two swimmers Sylvia Tanya Atieno Brunlehner and Issa Mohammed bowed out in Day 6 of the Games, at the Optus Aquatic Centre here in Gold Coast.

The German based Brunlehner, 24, could only manage the seventh position, in the 50m backstroke heat 4 finishing in 30.72 seconds.

“I’m not disappointed, but I’m not happy though. It wasn’t my best time but it could have been worse<” she said. “I found out just a few weeks before the games that I will be coming here, so that was not enough time for preparations, but I tried my best and all I have to do  now is to go back and train harder,” Brunlehner told Citizen Digital.

In the men’s 50m freestyle, Issa Mohammed could only make the 5th position in heat 5, clocking 23.80.

“It was great, that’s the good thing of competing in this level. This is where you identify where you go wrong and what to change, otherwise its pointless swimming if you don’t see your mistakes,” Mohammed said.

He however was not comfortable with the late call up of the Commonwealth bound team.

“It’s good to know a few months in advance, as it builds confidence knowing that you have been selected rather than being told few weeks before.”

Boxing

In boxing the script was the same as as Elizabeth Andiego was punched out 5-0 by Millicent Agboegbulen of Nigeria in the women’s under- 75kg quarterfinal 1. Nick Ambaka also lost to Mbachi Kaonga of Zambia in the men’s under-81kg round of 16.

Lawn Bowl

Kenya’s quest for a first ever gold in this event might still remain a dream as Cephas Kimwaki Kimani began on the wrong footing losing his first match 21-12 to India’s Krisha Xalxo, in a match played early morning at the BroadBeach Bowl Club.

“The first thing that led to me failing to get quick points in this match is law morale.The way I started is not the way it ended. By the time I picked up the opponent had already opened up a huge gap,”Said Kimwaki

“I know the mistakes I made, and in my next match I will be ready not to make the same mistakes although now I am under pressure to perform,” Added Kimwaki