Kenya registers impressive performance in Taekwondo at the ongoing African Games in Rabat, Morocco
When it comes to International sports, Kenya as only been known for athletics – the long distant version. Then a few years ago rugby (the 7s) picked up and made Kenya become a force to reckon worldwide. The women in volleyball also made us proud when they continued to beat their African compatriots at African games. Most recently we had the Kenya National Men’s Basketball Team make history they crushed big teams to book a slot in the finals of the game. As Kenyans continue to improve their performance in the non-athletic games, our sports women in the Taekwondo competitions just brought us some good news be winning medals at the ongoing African Games in Rabat, Morocco.
Faith Ogalo and Everlyn Aluoch won silver and bronze in the 73Kg category and in the 67-73Kg category respectively. Ogalo won the silver medal after conceding defeat of 27-11 to Yassine Hezami of Morocco. The fight went down last night at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex, Rabat.
Ogalo, a 23 year old student from Kababii University was very pleased with her performance, given that it was the first continental championship she was participating in. “I wanted gold but going home with silver is not that bad considering the quality of opponents I faced in Egypt and Morocco,” Ogalo told Citizen Digital. The young woman is now focused to being part of next year’s Olympic games.
“My dream is to one day be an Olympic champion and I am working towards that. I have been an East Africa Champion now I have moved a step further to the continental stage and I would like to thank my coach and the federation for all the support they have given us,” said Ogalo.
One common theme that always occur in these tournaments, even including tournaments for renowned sporting events like football, is government’s neglect of the players. In the Taekwondo competition the head coach George Wasonga said the government did not give them enough support during training.
The field games and other games at the Africa Games has helped Kenya become 16th overall, and that’s before the athletics that the country is known for kicks off. The athletics alone have enabled Kenya to always be in top three in previous competitions. Women Volleyball team Malkia Strikers will begin their title defence on Saturday with a matcha against African champions Cameroon
