Africa-Press – Kenya. World fencing bronze medallist Alexandra Ndolo is focusing on next year’s Qatar Grand Prix set for January 27-29. Ndolo, wbho switched her allegiance to Kenya from Germany, said she hopes to post a good performance at the event and improve her ranking to the top 30.
“I’m focusing on the Qatar Grand Prix to be held in Doha. I want to rise through the ranks to the top 30,” Ndolo said.
She added that she is currently training for the same and things are looking up. “I do technical training six days a week. I also practice weightlifting and a lot of running run to keep fit,” she said.
In the near future, Ndolo believes the sport will gain popularity in the country. She said since the introduction of the game in Kenya in 2019, it has been tricky to spread it since it is an expensive sport. She, however, noted that the future of the sport in the country is bright.
“I think the expensive nature of fencing makes it rare. This is one reason why it is a bit difficult to spread it across the country. Purchasing the equipment is costly but the good thing is that they last longer,” Ndolo said.
She added: “I am a member of the federation and personally, I believe the country has so much talent. I am optimistic the national team will grow with time and we shall reach out to as many people as we can. We are still building it.” As an individual, Ndolo said her ultimate goal in the sport is to make the Team Kenya squad to the Paris Olympics in 2024.
“I want to make more appearances at the World Championships and also participate at the African Championships. I also want to be able to offer support to young and upcoming fencers. I know I have the potential and I want to see where that takes me,” she added.
She said she doesn’t feel any pressure despite being the first Kenyan woman to ever compete at the International Fencing Federation World Cup. “I’m used to the pressure,” she said.
Ndolo revealed that since her switch of allegiance, she has received a lot of support from her fans and that makes her feel recognised. “Representing Kenya really feels good. People are so welcoming and to be honest, I didn’t expect immense support from my fans,” she said.
Being in the sport has also not been a walk in the park for her as she has been faced with numerous challenges. “I had to practice patience even after working hard in training and not achieving my goals. No matter what, you have to live to fight another day. At the moment, I finance myself for tournaments and it is a very big challenge,” she said.
For More News And Analysis About Kenya Follow Africa-Press
