Kirwa wins men's 1,500m bronze at Rio Paralympic Games

Wilson Bii of Kenya with his guide Benard Korir in the Men's 1500m - T11 Round 1 in the Olympic Stadium, during the Paralympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on September 11, 2016. PHOTO | AFP

What you need to know:

  • Samuel Muchai and Wilson Bii had opened Kenya’s medal haul winning gold and bronze respectively in the 5,000m final last Thursday.
  • With three medals won, Kenya sits at position 42 out of 70 nations that have so far claimed medals.
  • Another Algerian, Baka Fouda finished fourth behind Kirwa on 3:49.84 to also set a personal best.

Henry Kirwa won bronze in the T13 men’s 1,500m final of the 2016 Paralympic Games on Monday morning at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

The result increased Kenya’s medal tally to three with five days to go before the Games end.

Samuel Muchai and Wilson Bii had opened Kenya’s medal haul winning gold and bronze respectively in the 5,000m final last Thursday.

With three medals won, Kenya sits at position 42 out of 70 nations that have so far claimed medals.

Kirwa who had set his sights on reclaiming the title he won in Beijing, China, in 2008, however found the going tough and could only earn a third place finish behind winner, Algerian Baka Abdelatif, who claimed gold in 3 minutes, 48.29 seconds to set a new world record. Ethiopian Demisse Tamiru bagged silver in 3:48.49, which was his personal best.

Another Algerian, Baka Fouda finished fourth behind Kirwa on 3:49.84 to also set a personal best.

FULL OF ENERGY

However, the day belonged to gold medallist Baka, who not only ran a quick paced race full of energy, but also crushed the long standing record of Kenyan David Korir of 3:48.84 set in Lonond 2012.

So poignant was the win for Baka that he took close to five minutes after the race in celebrations with pockets of his compatriots in the terraces draped in the Algerian flag cheering on.

And on a day that Korir’s record came tumbling, Kirwa also drew satisfaction that he ran 0.75 inside the world record which Korir set in 2012 .This was also Kirwa’s personal best.

At the same time, Muchai and Bii take to the track early Tuesday morning with each fancying their chances of gold in the 1,500m final.

Much hope is pegged on the duo after they opened Kenya’s medal haul at the Games but they face a tough test from home boy Odiar Santos.