Kenyan cyclist Dedan Ireri to miss Paris 2024 Paralympic Games as Team Kenya gears to conquer

Reigning African champion in track and road in C3 (one leg cycling), Dedan Ireri, will miss the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games due to a pre-existing back condition.

Kenya National Paralympic Committee (KNPC) Secretary General, Stanley Mutuma, says organizers decided to pull Ireri out of the competition as a precautionary measure.

“Unfortunately, when they were out training in Compiegne, towards the end he had a strained back problem which our Chief Medical Officer Ogeto ruled him out of the competition after assessment. That’s quite unfortunate because he was very ready and gearing up to go, but nonetheless we continue to pray to have a quick recovery and to ensure that the coming years he can be able to participate,” remarked Mutuma.

This comes a day before the 17th edition of the Games start, with the opening ceremony at the Iconic Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées in Paris, France.

Just like the just concluded Olympic Games in the French capital, the ground breaking opening ceremony will take place outside the confines of a traditional stadium.

Mutuma said Team Kenya captain, Samwel Mushai and his deputy, Asiya Sururu will be the flag-bearers for the country at the opening ceremony.

Kenya is being represented by 13 athletes and seven guides.

Meanwhile, Kenya will, for the first time, be represented in more disciplines, five of them, including debuting in taekwondo and cycling.

“Just like when NOC-K had six events, so we also have five disciplines which is in addition to our traditional. So, we have track and field, athletics, we have taekwondo which is a new event for us, Para cycling, which is also a first one, Para lifting, and Para rowing,” stated Mutuma.

At the same time, Mutuma unveiled former Kenya Sevens international, Oscar Dennis, now a para-cyclist, to replace injured Benson Mwaniki as Kennedy Ogada’s guide in tandem road race B1 (completely blind).

Mutuma said that he is glad Dennis has joined Team Kenya in camp and will have some days to get acquainted with Ogada, who will compete in B1 on September 4.

Ogada and his pilot Mwaniki were involved in a freak accident while training in Compiegne but Ogada emerged unscathed.

“It’s unfortunate Mwaniki sustained some back and shoulder injuries that have ruled him out,” said Mutuma, adding that Mwaniki will take six weeks to fully recover.

“I whole-heartedly and warmly welcome Dennis to the team. He really wanted to be here in triathlon but was not graded on time,” Mutuma disclosed. “He is not new to the sport, having played rugby to the highest level before embracing para-cycling after an accident.”

Dennis, former Nondies centre, was knocked down by a hit-and-run incident while cycling in Karen in November, 2020, an accident that ended his rugby career.

Dennis, 28, moved to South Africa where he took up cycling mainly triathlon.

“I really wanted to represent Kenya at Paris Paralympics in triathlon but wasn’t graded on. I am now here as a guide, which is unbelievable,” said Dennis, who is looking forward to get in synch with Ogada. “We are training together and things look good.”

Team:

Athletics:

Women: Mercy Njoroge (guide, James Boit), Nancy Chelangat (Guide-Geoffrey Rotich), Priscah Jepkemei (Guide-Kenneth Lagat)-1,500m T11.

Sheila Wanyonyi( javelin-F12)

Rowing: Asiya Sururu (Single sculls)

Taekwondo: Julieta Moipo (under-57kgs), Stency Neema (under-52kgs)

Powerlifting: Hellen Wawira (under-41kgs)

Men: Wesley Sang 1,500m (T46), Samwel Mushai (Guide, Jean Kipchumba) 5,000m T11, Samson Ojuka (long jump -T11), John Lokedi 5,000m-T13.

Cycling:  Kennedy Ogada (Guide, Dennis Oscar) B1.