Rower Itaken takes plunge at Rio Paralympics

Kenyan rower Timoi Itaken and powerlifter Gabriel Magu launch their quest for Paralympic Games medals Friday from 3.10pm at the Lagowa Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Magu will compete in the 59kg weight category while Itaken will be taking a plunge in the men’s single sculls race.

Expectations are high on Itaken, who underwent specialised training in South Africa courtesy of sponsors Magadi Soda Foundation to put him in shape for the Games.

Speaking on phone from Rio on Thursday, Agnes Oluoch, the chairperson of the Kenya National Paralympic Committee (KNPC), expressed optimism that the two will excel

IN GOOD SHAPE

Oluoch added that the duo and the rest of Team Kenya are in good shape and raring to go.

“They are OK, they are relaxed. They’ve gotten into the system and I believe that they are going to do well. We are not going to give away any ground and they know that the stakes are high,” Oluoch said.

The Games will feature four rowing medal events LTA mixed coxed four, TA mixed double sculls, AS women’s single sculls and AS men’s single sculls.

Itaken, who will be participating in the AS men single sculls, faces a major challenge from Australia’s Paralympics silver medallist Erik Horrie, who will be aiming to continue his dominance in this category.

Horiie won the world titles in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and remains a firm favourite for gold.

Meanwhile, Nelly Nasimiyu will take to the track tomorrow at the Olympic Stadium aiming to clinch a medal in the T13 women 1,500 m final.

Nasimiyu and sprinter, Nancy Chelagat (T11- totally blind) are the only female athletes in the Kenya’s squad of nine.