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FILE PHOTO: World Athletics Championships

TOKYO (Reuters) - Two Kenyan 100 metre runners breaking new ground at the Tokyo Olympics are hoping to change perceptions that the country, known for its dominance in middle and long-distance running, cannot challenge for medals in the sprints.

Ferdinand Omanyala and Mark Otieno believe they can spring a surprise in a race that is the most open for many years after the retirement of Usain Bolt.

Kenya's distance pedigree is second to none but this will be the first time the country has competitors in the 100metres, according to Bernard Ouma, a coach with Team Kenya.

"Most of the people in the world don't believe that Kenyans can sprint, but we are changing that slowly," said Omanyala, who holds the national record with 10.01s and qualified at the Kenyan Olympic trials last month.

"It's not only for the Jamaicans and the USA, they are not made of steel, they don't use petrol. It's just in the mind. Change the mind and everything changes," he added.

Omanyala's route to Tokyo has not been a smooth one, however.

He served a 14-month doping ban from the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya imposed in 2017 and had to fight the country's officials to overcome their rules prohibiting Olympic selection of doped athletes.

Otieno, who has a best of 10.05, is also convinced the time is ripe to crash the Jamaica-US party. "Right now you can't count on who is going to take the race, you might surprise people next week, because anything can happen," he said.

Otieno said he plans to approach the race tackling each step at a time. "I am looking forward to reaching the final and to seeing who is going to take the medals," he said.

For his part, Omanyala hopes to break 10 seconds at the Games. "It doesn't matter what kind of sub-10 it will be - 9.60, 9.50, I will receive it," he said. Bolt's world record stands at 9.58.

Otieno said he looked up to American Trayvon Bromell as an inspiration and admired how he was able to recover from injury and work his way back into Olympic contention.

Bromell produced the fastest time of 9.77s this year and is favourite for gold but Omanyala says the race is anybody's.

"I don't fear anybody," he said. "I am going to that race knowing that I am also the same as these guys, we have all qualified," he said. "I can win it, why not?."

(Reporting by Omar Mohammed; Editing by Mitch Phillips and Muralikumar Anantharaman) By Omar Mohammed, Reuters/YAhoo News

Julius Ssekitoleko (L) checks in at Entebbe airport. Photo via The Observer

 

Ugandan weightlifter Julius Ssekitoleko who was today deported from Japan is to face disciplinary action over his failed disappearance act, ministry of Education and Sports has said. 

Ssekitoleeko, who disappeared from the hotel for the Ugandan Olympic Team in Izumisano, was found in the city of Yokkaichi nearly a week later. Before his disappearance, he reportedly left a note in his hotel room, saying he wanted to remain in Japan and work because life in Uganda is financially so hard.

Having failed to qualify in his discipline, Ssekitoleko was due to return to Uganda on July 20 but disappeared on July 16. Four days later he reportedly handed himself over to police following a frantic search. It is still unclear how Ssekitoleko managed to travel to Japan without qualifying for the games that have officially kicked off today afternoon. 

He arrived at Entebbe airport today at around 8:15 am aboard Qatar Airways under the tight watch and guard of Shiiya Kechini,  a Japanese official attached to Team Uganda. 

Rev. Canon Duncans Mugumya, the incoming commissioner physical education and sports at the Education ministry said Ssekitoleko will definitely be punished because he breached the code of conduct that among others, requires athletes to stay in the camp and seek permission before moving out of the camp.

"Other logistics are to be done here because as sportsmen, we have a way we discipline. The other ministries have a way they discipline so we will as a department of education and sports we will actually discipline him in a sports way. As you see, when you're in a game, a player is given a red card, maybe stopped to play another two games that is what we'll do and other affairs affecting other ministries they will do the needful but we'll help him and counsel him to make sure that he knows that he did wrong," said Mugumya.  

After going through the immigration routine checks, Ssekitoleeko was thereafter handed over to the police officers at the airport, prompting his family members to curse government for making life even harder for the already distressed athlete. 

After interrogation for over two hours, Ssekitoleko was later whisked away from the airport in a private double cabin vehicle without the knowledge of his family. This prompted his mother Juliet Nalwadda and his sister Pauline Nakasagga to chase after the vehicle, demanding for his release because he committed no crime.

Nalwadda said the reason her son wanted to stay in Japan is because his own government did not care for him in time of need. She said she had to look for over Shs 7 million to sponsor her son for the trip to Japan, expenses which ought to have been met by the government. Nalwadda said her son has done his best to represent the country, first as a rugby player and now weightlifting. 

"He has won many medals, but he has no job," Nalwadda said. "He has been evicted from his house and his girlfriend is pregnant."

Government denied arresting Ssekitoleko, saying he was only taken to the ministry of Internal Affairs headquarters for financial support.  

"We have not pressed any charges against him but taken him to the ministry to get some logistical issues sorted out because he needs financial support."

Mugumya explained that government is keen to know why Ssekitoleeko escaped in Japan. - URN/The Observer

Kenya Lionesses' Hilda Indasi challenges Angola's Italee Lucas in a past encounter. Photo Courtesy
 

 

National women's basketball team, Kenya Lionesses,  mauled South Sudan 66-48 in their second FIBA Africa Women’s Zone Five Qualifiers match in Kigali on Tuesday.

After a humiliating 77-45 loss to Rwanda on the opening day, Kenya seemed to have done their homework well.

Starting four of its diaspora-based players — captain Rose Ouma, Felmas Koranga, Mercy Wanyama and Victoria Reynolds — Kenya went to work early.

After Natalie Akinyi opened the scoring with a three-pointer, Wanyama, Reynolds and Koranga's efforts set Kenya off on a 16-9 first quarter advantage.

South Sudan closed in 12-16 as Kenya went on a  drought stretching over six minutes before a Melissa Akinyi free throw gave them their first point 

Reynolds completed a three-point play for a 20-12 cushion as Koranga started to dominate inside. The duo had 10 points each as Kenya led 26-14 halftime.

After resumption, Kenya continued to pile on points with Ouma, Wanyama and Koranga who picked up another 7 points in this quarter, doing the damage. 

South Sudan, playing in their first-ever FIBA competition struggled to hit the target for long stretches and trailed 47-24 at the end of the third stanza.

The deciding quarter was easy for Kenya who seemed to have found their groove. Live wire Koranga was too hot to handle for the losers igniting a 62-38 cushion.

“Yesterday we lacked aggression and execution and today the team kept on looking for everyone who was dropping shots,” Koranga said after the match.

She registered a game-high 23 points, Reynolds contributed 12 while Ouma and Wanyama combined for another 14 of the team points.

Nyamer scored 10 points and Perina James tallied 13 for Lindsey Harding’s charges who pressed to stop the bleeding but to no avail.

On Wednesday, the Lionesses play reigning champions Egypt while South Sudan meet hosts Rwanda. - DANN O’WERRE, The Star

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