Kenya women's handball team secures medal spot after second win in Hammamet

The thrilling straight-sets dismissal of Mali has positioned the Kenyan team as strong contenders for a medal in the five-team round-robin tournament.

In a closely contested match, the Kenyan girls exhibited exceptional determination, with captain Michelle Adhiambo securing the winning goal in the second set.

Adhiambo led her team to a 17-16 triumph after dominating the first set, in which they emerged victorious with a score of 12-4.

The team's strategic decisions, particularly regarding their special players, remained key to the victory.

Adhiambo, who switched places with Gladys Chilo, played a pivotal role in turning the game around in the final four minutes.

Adhiambo led the score for Kenya with an impressive 14 points while her teammate Brenda Ariviza contributed six points, and Chilo added four points to the team's tally.

The Kenyan girls, who had displayed their dominance in the opening match against Algeria, showcased a brilliant combination of experience, speed, and youth, making them an unstoppable force on the court.

Assistant captain Viona Wandera expressed her delight following the hard-fought victory that she attributed to the change in tact.

 "We changed the situation and had to re-strategize when the game became difficult. We worked as a team and brought the victory home," Wandera said.

"We are excited because we are now officially in the medal bracket. We have to now take a game at a time in the two remaining matches. We are pushing to get into the gold bracket," she added.

While the women's team revels in their success, the men's team faced elimination after a defeat in their second match of the three-team pool.

The men's team fought valiantly but ultimately lost by straight sets with scores of 22-12 and 18-10.

In another discipline, sprint rowing, the Kenyan duo; Diana Natecho and Harrison Malenga reached the quarter-finals.

Both athletes had successfully advanced through the preliminary time-trial stage, but Malenga was defeated in the quarter-finals by Sudan, while Natecho faced tough competition from a local rower.

The afternoon session will see the handball ladies play Uganda while rowing will participate in the mixed category.