Kenya’s badminton team heads to Botswana for championships

The Kenyan badminton team jets out tonight for Gaborone, Botswana to participate in the All Africa Senior Badminton Championships, set to begin on February 9.

For the women’s team, this marks their first appearance at the Championships in nearly five years. Team captain Naomi Wandili expressed excitement as they prepare to take on Africa’s best.

“We are looking forward to facing Uganda, who we believe are the best in the region, and we hope to make it to the semi-finals,” she said.

Despite the long layoff since their last participation, Wandili remains confident, citing the team’s growth in recent years as a key advantage heading into the Championships.

Veteran player Jacinta Sengera also highlighted the team’s desire to compete for silverware, while shedding light on the challenges women face in badminton across different levels of the sport.

“Women are afraid of things like intimidation. There’s the fear that coaches may want something on the side in order to train you, and that kills the passion women have for this amazing sport.”

On the men’s side, captain Sammy Sikoyo expressed confidence as the squad looks ahead to the Championships in Botswana.

“We know they don’t know us, but we know them. We feel like underdogs in this way, but we will try to reach the semi-finals in this edition.”

Speaking to Citizen Digital, Sikoyo emphasized the team’s hunger and determination as they aim to challenge strong sides such as Egypt and South Africa on their path to the semi-finals.

“The mood is one of hunger and thirst to win. We haven’t had this opportunity in a while, and this has given us the chance to train fully and adapt to the new plastic shuttle we will use in Botswana.”

Federation representative Benson Owano underscored the importance of Kenya’s participation in the Championships.

“These are competitions that feature African sides that also competed in 2024, so it is important for us to see where we measure up against the best on the continent.”

Owano also expressed gratitude for the support the team received during preparations for their first appearance in nearly five years.

“During preparation, we received support from all over, including friendly matches in schools and access to training venues across the country. This has helped the team prepare adequately for the Championships beginning this month.”