Africa-Press – Kenya. Kenya’s para powerlifting national team marked a remarkable debut at the World Ability Sports Para Powerlifting Championships, finishing second overall with four medals.
The team took a gold, a silver, and two bronze medals on Thursday at the Mersin Amfi Tiyatro Park in Mersin, Turkey.
Gold medalist Joash Otieno Obende could not contain his emotions after achieving what he described as a ‘dream come true’.
“This is beyond tears, I just can’t believe it. It definitely has to go to my family and all gym partners in Kibra. I have worked so hard and never imagined that one day I would get a platform to showcase my abilities,” said Obende.
Obende’s golden lift capped a day that began with Eugine Batu and 16-year-old Lekaja Muraya competing in the up to 59kg category.
Muraya finished fourth after one clean lift out of three, while Batu delivered two clean lifts to claim Kenya’s first medal of the day — a silver.
In the up to 65kg category, Obende and Collins Adala thrilled the crowd with flawless performances, each registering three clean lifts.
Event officials — Ehan Abassi (Iran), Veronica Kutchova (Czech Republic) and Ntalya Yskhay (Kazakhstan) raised their white flags, confirming Obende as gold medalist and Adala with bronze.
Teen sensation Sonia Tendai, a Form Three student at Joy Town Secondary School, made a promising debut in the up to 50kg category, winning bronze after two successful attempts.
Her schoolmate Margret Wamaitha competed in the up to 67kg class, finishing fourth after one clean lift, while Merceline Kavumbi was sixth in the up-to-61kg division following technical disqualifications on all three attempts.
Kazakhstan emerged overall winners with six medals, two ahead of Kenya, while Turkey and France tied for third with four medals each.
Croatia, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates and Estonia completed the standings.
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