Team Kenya Deaflympics captains confident of record-breaking performance in Tokyo
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 25.10.25. | 14:26
The team will compete in athletics, golf, men’s handball, women’s basketball, and swimming
Team Kenya co-captains Isaac Atima and Linet Nanjala have expressed confidence that the squad will deliver its best-ever performance at the Deaflympics in the Summer Games set for Tokyo from Saturday, 15 to Wednesday, 26 November.
Kenya will be making its eighth appearance in the quadrennial multi-sport event after debuting in 1997 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Over the years, Kenya has steadily improved its performance in the global championships, establishing itself as a powerhouse in deaf sports.
Tasked with leading a contingent of 177 athletes in Tokyo, Atima and Nanjala said they have faith the team will surpass the 24 medals (five gold, seven silver, and 12 bronze) won at the 2022 edition held in Caxias do Sul, Brazil.
“As Team Kenya, we are hopeful to win many medals in Tokyo. That I can assure you. We want to do our best in the camp so that when we compete, we fly the flag of our country high,” said Nanjala.
“Personally, I’m focused on returning home with the elusive gold medal from Japan,” Nanjala, who bagged a silver medal in both 4x400m mixed relay and women’s 4x400m relay, and a bronze in the women’s 400m in Brazil.
Meanwhile, Atima, who is raring to go in the men’s 400m and 400m hurdles categories, reiterated the team’s expectations for more medals, confirming that the target was more medals.
“My personal expectation is that I will bring my very own medal to be an example as a captain.”
The duo admitted that the cash awards from the government are a big motivation for every member of Team Kenya to give their best in the Summer Games.
Last month, the government enhanced the athletes' cash rewards scheme with every gold medal, at major championships, attracting Ksh3 million up from Ksh750,000. Silver medalists earn Ksh2 million, an increase from Ksh500,000, while bronze medalists receive Ksh1 million, up from Ksh350,000.
In Tokyo, Kenya will compete in athletics, golf, men’s handball, women’s basketball, and swimming. Kenya’s 24-medal haul in Brazil remains the country’s best performance in the Deaflympics.
Previously, in the 2017 Summer Deaflympics held in Samsun, Turkey, Kenya was first in Africa and ninth globally with 16 medals (five gold, five silver, and six bronze).
Kenya also finished ninth with 16 medals (six gold, five silver, and five bronze) in the 2013 Games held in Sofia, Bulgaria.
