Deaflympics: Team Kenya ready to roar as handball, basketball squads depart for Tokyo

The men’s handball team left the country on Thursday morning while the women’s basketball team left in two batches, the first group departed at midday while the second contingent boarded in the evening.

Team captains for the groups were all elated ahead of the grand departures, pledging to floor rivals in their various pools in Tokyo.

“We are promising very good results, this is because we have done our homework well,” Basketball skipper Maureen Auma underlined.

On the other hand, handball captain Joel Kiilu noted: “We have been pooled in the group of death, but we are resilient, we are ready to meet the world beaters in our group head on. Our plot is to top our standings, proceed to the semis where we will ork on a strategy for the podium.”

Kenya women’s deaf basketball team coach Mary Chepkoi expressed her delight, promising that her girls will stage a mighty show in Japan.

“We are very happy and looking forward to the journey,” said Chepkoi who is also the coach of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Women’s basketball team nicknamed “Lynx”.

“Although it is a long one (the journey), we are ready for it. We are so exited ahead of Tokyo, and ready for the Games. Kenyans should expect a better performance from us than we did in Brazil in 2022,” she added.

The Kenyan basketball contingent is in Group “A” alongside world giants Lithuania, Italy and Australia.

Handball will be the first Kenyan team to be in action at the Tokyo Deaflympics. They are scheduled to face Serbia in a Group “B” match at the Komazawa Olympic Park General Sports Indoor Stadium from 6pm local time (12 noon Kenyan time) on Sunday.

Defending champions Croatia and France are the pool’s other members while Group “A” consists of hosts Japan, Germany, Turkey, and Brazil.

Apart from basketball and handball, Kenya will also compete in athletics, golf, and swimming in the Deaflympics showdown.

Athletics team will leave for Tokyo on Friday while golf and swimming will fly to Japan on Saturday.

The 25th edition of the Summer Deaflympics that starts on Saturday will run until November 26. Kenya will be represented in the Games by a strong contingent of 180 members, who include athletes, team officials, medics and interpreters.