Deaflympics: Kenya set for historic badminton debut in Tokyo

Kenya is eyeing an impressive debut in badminton at the Tokyo 2025 Summer Deaflympics scheduled for November 15 to 26 in Japan.

Four players will represent the country in the discipline namely: Titus Kiprop, 30, Joseph Kago, 33, Teresa Wambui, 32, and Maryline Wanjiru, 31.

The team will be under the guidance of former Kenya top seed in men’s doubles Morgan Kirimi.

Speaking on the sidelines of the team’s training at the Nairobi Jaffrey Sports Club, captain Wambui said their aim is to make a historic debut in the Games by clinching medals.

“I feel very happy to be among the players who will represent the country internationally in deaf badminton for the first time. My aim is to bring a medal back home,” said Wambui, adding that the government’s KSh3 million reward for every gold medal won at major championships is a big motivation to her.

Born deaf in Kilifi County, Wambui only took up badminton in 2019. She initially played football but her passion in the sport never matched what she found in badminton.

 Alongside the three other players, the alumnus of Karen Technical Training Institute for the Deaf earned her place in the team during the trials held in Mombasa.

The trials, Kirimi said, attracted players from 14 counties. In Tokyo, the players will compete in the men and women’s singles, the men and women’s doubles and the mixed doubles.

The team trains three times a week - on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – either at the Pumwani Social Hall or at the Nairobi Jaffrey Sports Club. They have also been sparring against the hearing players to gauge their prowess in the game.

“The training has been very intense. We know the competition at the Deaflympics will be tough, so we just have to keep going.

“Competing with the hearing players has been a good exposure to me because they are better players,” said Wambui, who is a chef by profession.

“My players are very much ready (for Deaflympics) because they have been training for quite a while now,” said the BWF accredited International Coach who is currently pursuing a Certificate Course in Sports Coaching at the University of Nairobi.

“My target as a coach is to bring fame to the country. I am hoping to get some medals. The players are very keen to bring glory to the country because just recently we were told that if you win a gold medal, you will get Sh3 million so every player is keen to get more package on that,” he added.