Athletics Kenya President Jackson Tuwei is confident the country will shine in the upcoming World Athletics Championship scheduled for Budapest between August 19 and 27.
After training in Nairobi, Team Kenya will start travelling to Hungary from Monday, August 14, for the global showpiece, and the AK chief believes the best players have been selected and will collect medals.
Confident Tuwei
“Going back to the previous 18 editions, Kenya is only second to the USA in terms of total medals won. The team will surprise a lot of people, and we believe in them.
“We have selected the best team possible to represent us in the 19th edition of the World Athletics Championship in Budapest and given them the best preparation possible.
“The onus is on them to make us proud,” Tuwei told the media.
Apart from Tuwei, two-time and back-to-back Olympic champion David Rudisha is also confident Kenya will register success in the global championship.
Rudisha, who won two world championship medals in 800m and holds the record in the event, has been appointed ambassador of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023.
“I see a lot of promise in this Kenyan team, and it will be really exciting in some days to watch them dominate in their respective races.
“Athletics is a journey. Even now, with the young athletes I can see around (making reference to the youngest squad members of the team to Budapest in Faith Cherotich, Ishmael Kipkirui, and Purity Chepkirui), my advice to them is to just believe and have no fear.
“That will be key for them to win,” Rudisha, who battled a niggling knee injury during his active days, said, as quoted by a local media outlet.
Namwamba’s commitment
On his part, Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba said the government will ensure smooth travelling arrangements for athletics, unlike before.
Before the World Championships in Oregon in 2022, the Kenyan delegation was faced with travel hiccups, including Ferdinand Omanyala, who is eyeing making history in Budapest.
“I can confidently say that everything is sorted now, and the last batch should get to Budapest in real good time. That will allow them to get a feel for the new environment and acclimatize accordingly,” Namwamba said.
Kenyans travel to Budapest hoping to break records, as gifts from the government await them if they excel. Faith Kipyegon, the world’s triple record breaker in 50 days, has been awarded by the state for her recent achievements.
“Also, as part of the award system that saw us award Faith Kipyegon with a Ksh5 million cash prize and a three-bedroom house worth Ksh6 million, I am happy to announce that we have made significant improvements to our cash reward system, which we will announce later,” Namwamba added.
