NAIROBI, May 7 – Kenya will enter 17 out of 23 disciplines up for competition at the 11th Africa Games formerly All Africa Games set to run from September 4 to 19 in Congo Brazzaville.
Among the disciplines left out is female boxing after the country’s pioneering Olympics and Commonwealth fighter Elizabeth Andiego was ruled out of action up to a year following a hit and run accident.
Andiego who was released from Kenyatta National Hospital on Wednesday, is the only female boxer could qualify for the event having competed at 2012 Olympics and last year’s Glasgow Club games in the middleweight.
Other sports locked out are Fencing and Gymnastics who don’t have full-fledged federations and structures while Kenya Bowling Association bowed out of the continental championships because the version on offer at the games is different from the one they practice.
In a bid to better 2011 Maputo performance where the country collected 50 medals, 14 Gold, 14 Silver and 22 Bronze, the ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture has constituted a committee led by Sports Commissioner Gordon Oluoch to begin early preparations.
“The Management and Steering Committees aim is to surpass the 2011 Maputo medal tally of 50 medals that was the best performance for Kenya to date, but with meticulous preparations, Kenya can do much better,” the Games Executive Officer, Charles Nyaberi stated.
Athletics who came home with17 medals, 5 Gold, 5 Silver and 7 Bronze, headline the disciplines alongside, Badminton, Boxing (men), Cycling, Handball, Judo, Karate, Lawn Tennis, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tae Kwon Do, Weightlifting, Wrestling and Paralympic Sports that will all feature both men and women categories.
Apart from the competitive disciplines, Kenya will also be represented in the Youth Camp.
Kenya Sevens, women’s Volleyball team and Beach Volleyball (men & women) are the only team sports after the national men Under-23 football team, men’s volleyball and basketball were bundled out in the qualifiers.
Sponsors African Union elected to switch the name of the quadrennial championship from All Africa to African Games.
