Kenya drops three from Paralympic team
14/8/2008 17:51
Kenya's Olympic officials have dropped three athletes from the
Beijing-bound Paralympics athletics team, which has been camping in
Nairobi.
Those dropped according to The Standard daily today include Joseph
Romong'o (10,000m) Emmanuel Asinika (5,000m and marathon), and Emmanuel
Cheruiyot (5,000m).
During the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Romong'o won
gold in 10,000m and Asinika bronze medals in 5000m and Marathon.
However, the
three did not win a medal at the World Paralympics Championships in Netherlands
in 2006 and the All Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria last year.
The team
captain Henry Wanyoike said it was demeaning that the three were left out after
having trained for the games.
"I know they considered one's performance at
the All Africa Games and the World Championship, but such moves kill an
athlete's morale," he said.
"The Paralympics team has no reserve athletes and
it is time a provision for them was made," he said.
"However, ours is to
prepare well and win more medals in Beijing." The 13-member squad will leave for
Beijing on August 29 accompanied by a coach and four guide
runners.
Xinhua
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