Four seasoned deaf athletes from Kericho are set to represent Kenya in the 5th World Deaf Athletics Championships in Taipei City, China, slated for this month.
The 2024 World Deaf Athletics Championships will be held on July 14 and end on July 16, 2024, where both field and track events will be featured.
Hillary Chirchir, Philip Langat, Edwin Terer, and Mercy Chepkoech were named as part of the selected team of athletes who made it to Team Kenya after the conclusion of the national trials for the World Deaf Athletics Championships held in Nairobi last month.
Chirchir scooped silver in the 2019 Africa Deaf Athletics Championships at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, in Nairobi in the men’s javelin event and will represent Kenya in the javelin throw at the 2024 World Deaf Athletics Championships.
In an interview in Kenya Sign Language (KSL) at Kericho Uhuru Garden, the 36-year-old expressed optimism that he is fired up to take up the challenge in Taipei and ensures that he delivers a podium finish.
“My target is to be among the top three, and I am going to work hard to make it to the podium. During the 2019 Africa Deaf Athletics Championships, I participated in the javelin event, which attracted 12 competitors, and I achieved a javelin throw of 42.83 m behind Benjamin Kimitei, who emerged as the winner with 48.43 m. I believe I will bring gold to Kenya, “said Chirchir.
Bronze medalist at the 2021 World Deaf Athletics Championships in Lublin, Poland, Edwin Terer, 25, with a personal best of 1:31.35 in the men’s 10km race walk, expressed optimism that he will improve on his speed and clinch gold for Kenya.
Langat, 29, is set to represent Kenya in the 5,000-metre steeplechase, while Chepkoech, 22, will participate in the 100- and 200-metre races as well as the 4 by 400-metre relay races.
In company with the deaf athletes at Kericho Uhuru Garden, former Principal and Founder of Kedowa Schools for the Deaf in Kericho County School, Mr. Stephen Ngetich, revealed that the quartet, who were all born deaf, did not allow disability to hinder them from chasing their dreams, and they are working to see that they become renowned athletes across the country and the world over.
“Being their mentor, as they all attended both their primary and secondary school education at Kedowa schools for the deaf and later to technical institutions, they believe disability is not inability. They will represent Kenya in the 2024 World Deaf Athletics Championships in Taipei City, China,” said Ngetich.
By Sarah Njagi
