Kenya names team of 20 for Youth Olympics

Kenya will be represented at the Youth Olympic Games that is set to take place from October 6-18 in Buenos Aires, Argentina by some 20 athletes.

At a press briefing in Nairobi on Tuesday, Team Kenya Chef de Mission Anthony Kariuki said that the team was exclusively selected from disciplines that participated in the African Youth Games which was held in Algiers, Algeria from July 18-28.

“In the Athletics, we have tried to appeal to organisers to accept more slots for those who attained qualifying standards but they declined and insisting on the athlete from the African Games,” said Kariuki.

Kariuki said that NOCK is the lone sponsor in this year’s Youth Olympic Games having pumped in Ksh 35million.

“We had approached the government with a budget of Ksh 39 million but they told us they could not assist us for now since they had sponsored the team to Algeria,” said Kariuki adding that NOCK is working round the clock to get more sponsors on board.

Making up the squad are 10 athletes; five boys and an equal number of girls, nine hockey players and one swimmer who are currently in camp at the Kasarani Stadium.

Others are javelin throwers Martha Nthanza Musai, who won gold in girls’ championship at the Africa Youth Games and Ita Nao who claimed silver in the boys’ event.

Fancy Cherono who won gold in girls’ 2,000m steeplechase and Dennis Mutuku Matheka, who settled for silver in the boys’ competition, are also in the team.

In the 1,500m steeplechase men category, Nickson Pariken will participate alongside Edinah Jebitok.

Francis Leshoo and Angela Ndungwa will battle it out in boys’ and girls’ 800m with Jackson Kavesa and Mercy Chepkorir making the 3,000m team.

The hockey team has 9 players, all boys, training at City Park.

They are Ivan Morgan, Edson Isaac, Bryton Ndwati, Brian Nyabuto, Robinson Omutekete, Paul Navangi, Ian Olando, Samuel Kimaru and Richard Njuki.

Maria Brunleher who is currently based in Germany is the only female swimmer that is poised to participate in 100m Women’s free style.

Brunleher won two gold medals and silver in the African Games and will fly directly from Germany to link up with the tem in Argentina

At the previous Olympic Games held in Nanjing, Kenya claimed five medals; two gold, an equal number of silver and a bronze.

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kenya argentina Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games Chef-de-Mission Anthony Kariuki 20 athletes

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