Kenya picks squad of 13 for World Para Championships

The Kenya National Paralympic Committee (KNPC) has picked a squad of 13 athletes that will compete in the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships scheduled for May 17 to 25 in Kobe, Japan.

The team of nine men and four women will have three guides and four coaches.

The 13 include; Sheila Wanyonyi, Sylvia Olero Atieno , Nelly Sile Jeptoo, Priscah Jepkemei in the women’s category while the men will be led by Samuel Muchai. Others are Vincent Mutai Kiprono, Rajab Chetty,Nathan Kemboi , Samson Opiyo Ojuka,  Brian Esogon ,  Evans Ruto, John Lokedi, and Eric Sang Kiptoo.

Mushai, who lost his sight at the age of nine after an illness, and has three medals from the Paralympics - two gold and a silver, will compete in the men's 5,000m T11 in Kobe.

He won 1,500m T11 silver at 2008 Beijing Paralympics, which he improved to gold four years later at the 2012 London Paralympic Games in a World and Games Record 3:58:37.

Others going to Kobe are visually impaired athlete Eric Sang, the Paralympic athletes’ representative. Wilson Bii, hopes to get a slot via the high performance ranking system. Bii has represented Kenya at two Summer Paralympics, beginning in London in 2012, where he competed in the 5,000m T11 but failed to finish the race before striking bronze in Rio four years later.

 The World Para Athletics Championships is the final athletics qualifier event ahead of the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.

Seven Kenyan para athletes have so far qualified for Paris Paralympics in four disciplines - athletics, cycling, taekwondo and rowing.

The Paris Summer Games, which will feature 549 events in 22 sporting disciplines, are scheduled to run from August 28 to September 8 in the French capital.

Team for World Para Athletics Championships, Kobe, Japan

1. Sheila Wanyonyi (Javelin F13 F12/13)

2. Sylvia Olero Atieno (Discus Throw F64)

3. Nelly Sile Jeptoo (Javelin F55/56)

4. Priscah Jepkemei (200m, 400m, 1,500 m T11- Guide Kenneth Lagat)

 Men

1. Vincent Mutai Kiprono (Long Jump T45/46/47)

2. Rajab Chetty (Shot Put F11)

3. Nathan Kemboi (Javelin F45/46)

4. Samson Opiyo Ojuka (200m, Long Jump T37)

5. Brian Esogon (400m T12)

6. Evans Ruto (1,500m T45/46)

7. John Lokedi (1,500m, 5,000m T13)

8. Samuel Muchai (5,000m T11- Guide Jean Kipchumba)

9. Eric Sang Kiptoo (1,500m, 5,000mT11- guide Andrew Ndiema)