NAIROBI, September 18 – Medallists in the successful Paralympics team will receive Sh1million worth of gift vouchers from retail chain Nakumatt Holdings.
Nakumatt operations director Thiagarajan Ramamurthy said Thursday that the team’s performance at the Beijing Paralympics was testament to the fact that physical impairment was not a hindrance to accomplishing success on the biggest sports stage.
“As the nation continues to celebrate our Paralympics team sterling performance at the just concluded Beijing Paralympics, Nakumatt Holdings wishes to extend a modest reward package featuring a range of Nakumatt Gift Vouchers valued at Sh1 million to all medallists and the technical team to Beijing,” said Ramamurthy.
The guides to men’s 5000m silver medallist Francis Thuo and bronze medallist in the same event Henry Wanyoike will also receive gift vouchers worth Sh75,000 and Sh50,000 respectively.
Nakumatt awarded a similar package to the team that took part in last month’s Beijing Olympics.
The team which arrives on Friday morning finished in 27th place in the medal standings with eight medals, the third best country in Africa behind South Africa and Tunisia who finished sixth and 15th respectively.
Henry Kirwa clinched three gold medals in the men’s 1500m T-13, men’s 5000m T-13 and men’s 10000m T-12 races.
Abraham Cheruiyot won Kenya’s other two gold medals in the men’s 1500m and 5000m T-46 events.
Three silver medals were delivered by Mary Zakayo Nakhumicha in the women’s javelin throw F57/58, Samuel Mushai men’s 1500m T11 and Thuo in the men’s 5000m T11.
Former Paralympic champion Wanyoike was the team’s sole bronze medallist in the 5000m T-13.
The team arrives back into the country at 12.45 p.m. and will be received by Prime Minister Raila Odinga at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after which they will be driven in a convoy through the city before stopping at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani where they will spend the night.
The triumphant athletes will then meet President Mwai Kibaki at State House on Saturday where he will give out cash rewards to the medallists and finalists.
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