Kenyan wrestlers have massively improved their point tallies in the just concluded Africa wrestling Championships in Egypt as all focus now shifts to the highly anticipated Africa Oceania Championships on Saturday 23rd- Sunday 24th March in Alexandria where only the first two podium finishers will qualify directly to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Speaking from Alexandria on Friday, Kenya wrestling national team head coach Linus Masheti was in a jovial mood saying that his charges need to stay focused because Saturday and Sunday is a big day that might define their careers.
” We have been wrestling on Monday and Tuesday in the African Championships and even though Eunice and Mark missed slightly to finish on the podium, they have gathered enough points more than we expected and have overally lifted the team’s rankings as we head to the Africa Oceania Championships on Saturday and Sunday,” said Masheti adding that if Kenya won’t have an athlete finishing at either the first or second position over the weekend, then the battle will continue in May during the Instanbul world series where all points will be tallied and only athletes with the highest points will make it to the Paris Olympics.
19 year old Zetech University student Eunice Waithira who has just graduated from the junior wrestling national team lost by 4-1 in her semifinals on Monday against South Africa’s Minnete Kruger and managed to accrue 5000 points.
Africa beach games silver medalist Mark Onguyesi Omumasaba also lost his semifinal the following day against Nigerian Harrison Onovwi 3-4, but still managed a staggering 8000 points while 2023 Tunisia bronze medalist Mathayo Mahabila finished at position seven and garnered 3800 points.
Another junior team wrestler, 18 year old Eugine Osale from Bahai High School in Bungoma County had a tough senior team debut on global stage, but surprised many when he accumulated 3800 points as East Africa champion Emma wangila finished at fifth place with 4000 points, a great improvement from the African games in Accra.
Now the four Kenyan wrestlers have a tough outing on Saturday and Sunday after resting on Wednesday and Thursday, but have to finish at either position one or two for them to get a direct ticket to Paris 2024 Olympics or continue with the point tally system with the Instanbul world series championships in May 2024 being their only option to clock the required 10,000 points for an Olympic qualification Mark
