While they arrived in Egypt only a few hours to the start of the 2023 ITTF Africa Para Championships, the Kenyan contingent was delighted to land at the tournament after years of noticeable absence.
The ebullient mood in their camp underscored the significance of the country’s return to the continental championships, which also serve as qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in France.
The 10-man Kenyan team is made up of fresh saps and experienced stars led by veteran Rose Chesang, who featured at the Commonwealth Games in 2006 and 2010 in Melbourne and Delhi. Chesang described the team participation as a good development for para table tennis in Kenya.
“I am so happy that we are competing in this tournament because some of us who had featured at the Commonwealth Games have not taken part in the African Championships. This goes to show that Kenya has joined the league of para table tennis active playing nations. You can see the excitement in the faces of the team even though they played against experienced players,” Chesang said.
Despite his defeat in the class nine qualifier, 27-year-old Anthony Ojwang was delighted to make the trip to Giza, Egypt. “I am so happy that I was selected to represent my country because table tennis is my passion. I cannot but be grateful to our government for deeming it fit to support us for the trip. This is my first time playing an international tournament and I just want to enjoy every moment here in Egypt because I have come to learn from top players so that when I return home, I can practice what I have learnt,” the graduate of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology said.
