Deaflympics: First batch of Team Kenya jets out tonight

Kenya’s first group of athletes and officials are set to depart for Japan on Tuesday ahead of the 2025 Summer Deaflympics, scheduled to take place in Tokyo from November 15 to 26.

This year marks the 25th edition of the prestigious event, and Team Kenya is gearing up to compete in five out of the 21 disciplines on offer: athletics, women’s basketball, men’s handball, golf, and swimming.

According to Team Kenya CEO Duncan Kuria, the first batch of the 180-member delegation will leave for Tokyo today evening while the second group will depart on Wednesday, and the final batch on Thursday.

“Our athletes are ready, and there’s palpable excitement to arrive in Japan and deliver even better results than we did in Brazil (2022). We’re confident that our competitors will quickly acclimatize to Tokyo’s conditions, and we’re fully prepared to go head-to-head with the world’s best. Our goal is to bring home as many medals as possible,” said Kuria.

The 2025 Deaflympics will not only be a fierce international competition but also a milestone for the Games, as it celebrates the 100th anniversary of the inaugural event held in Paris in 1924. For Kenya, this will be the nation’s eighth appearance at the Deaflympics, having made its debut in 1997 at the Games in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The event is expected to feature around 6,000 participants from across the globe, including athletes, coaches, and officials. The Kenyan delegation includes not just athletes but also team officials, medical staff, and interpreters.

Originally, Kenya had planned to compete in 12 disciplines, but financial constraints led to the cancellation of seven teams. The eliminated sports include women’s football, bowling, badminton, tennis, table tennis, cycling, and women’s volleyball.

Since October 19, Team Kenya has been in a residential training camp at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani, Nairobi, where they have been fine-tuning their skills and strategies in preparation for the upcoming competition.

Kenya has historically performed well at the Deaflympics, with their 24-medal haul in Brazil standing as the country’s best-ever performance. In the 2017 Summer Deaflympics in Samsun, Turkey, Kenya finished top in Africa and 9th globally, securing 16 medals (five gold, five silver, and six bronze).

To ensure their athletes are fully supported during the games, Kuria revealed plans to bring maize flour to Tokyo so the team can continue to enjoy their favourite local dish, ugali, throughout the competition.