Kenyans shines best during Deaflympics penultimate day, bags 8 medals

The Kenya Deaflympics national team verified their prowess in the athletic world after bagging eight medals on the penultimate day of the 24th Deaflympics at Caxias do Sul in Brazil.

Kenya increased their medal tally to 24 yesterday morning.

The team bagged two gold, four silver and two bronze medals to surpass the sixteen medals won during the previous edition in Samsun, Turkey in 2017.

Prior to the global event In Brazil, the Kenya team had set a goal of bagging twenty medals and the team is on the right track to accomplishing that goal.

Elikana Rono clinched gold in the 800m while two-time Deaflympics champion Simon Kibai completed a double after bagging gold in the 5,000m.

He finished the race in 14:14.81 ahead of compatriot Ian Kahinga, who finished in 14:24.27, while Otto Kingstedt of Sweden was third in 14:44.19.

Kibai had earlier won gold in the 10, 000m race.

In the 800m, Rono won the hotly contested race in 1:54.75, beating Jammie Morga (1:54.88) of Spain to second place while Michael Kulpa (1:54.91) of Poland finished third.

In the women’s 5, 000m final, Grancy Kendagor won a bronze medal after finishing in 18:16.44 in the race which was won by Sara-Elise Ruokonen (17:33.03).

The Kenyan quartet of Beryl Wamira, Linet Fwamba, Sharon Bitok and Pamela Atieno clinched silver in the women’s 4x400m relay.

Their male counterparts Isaac Atima, George Waweru, Charles Muthama and Simon Menza settled for a bronze in their event.

It was Wamira’s fourth medal this is after bagging two silver and two bronze medals respectively.

Kenya is expected to bag more medals in the men’s and women’s marathons.

Defending champion and world marathon record holder Daniel Kiptum, Peter Toroitich, David Kipkogei will carry the Kenyan flag in the men’s category.

Double medallist Kendagor and silver medallist Sarah Wangare will represent Kenya in the women’s category.