Make way world! Team Kenya off to Rio for Olympics

What you need to know:

  • Kenya Sevens players, boxers and weightlifters in the first contingent of athletes heading to Brazil
  • In archery, Kenya will be represented by Shehzana Anwar, Kiplagat Sang will compete in judo while the team’s sole weightlifter will be James Adede.
  • In boxing, Peter Mungai (light flyweight), Rayton Okwiri (welterweight) and Benson Gicharu (bantamweight) will be Kenya’s flagbearers.

The first batch of Team Kenya athletes to 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro leaves Sunday morning.

Members of the sevens rugby team (men and women) and their respective technical benches will be part of the group that leaves for Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.

Also in the 9am flight to Rio via Luanda will be judo, archery and weightlifting teams represented by one athlete each as well as the three-man boxing squad.

The National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOCK) Secretary-general FK Paul told Sunday Nation Sport that all travel arrangements are in place for the team’s departure.

“An advance party led by our chef de mission, Stephen Soi, is already in Rio to make preparations for the team’s arrival. Once the first group of athletes arrives in Rio, the Kenyan flag will be raised at the Olympics village to signify Kenya’s presence,” FK Paul said. Thereafter, the team is expected to commence training progamme ahead of the opening ceremony on August 5.

According to FK Paul, the next batch of athletes will depart on July 31 and August 7. The marathon team will be the last group to leave at a date yet to be announced.

The men and women’s sevens rugby teams comprise 12 players each and three officials. The two teams will be under tutelage of coach Benjamin Ayimba who coordinate their training sessions.

In archery, Kenya will be represented by Shehzana Anwar, Kiplagat Sang will compete in judo while the team’s sole weightlifter will be James Adede.

In boxing, Peter Mungai (light flyweight), Rayton Okwiri (welterweight) and Benson Gicharu (bantamweight) will be Kenya’s flagbearers.

On Friday, part of Team Kenya, including 35 male and 20 female track and field athletes together with 14 officials, received the national flag from President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi.

Also present at the ceremony were members of the Kenyan Paralympic team who will compete in the September 7-18 Paralympic Games.

Speaking on Friday during the flag handing over ceremony, Noc-K president Kipchoge Keino said the team has received adequate training and is ready represent the country.