NOC-K grants scholarships to athletes in preparation for Olympics

The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) on Monday issued Olympic scholarships worth Sh2.4 million to six Kenyan athletes in a bid to bolster their preparations for the upcoming Tokyo Games.

World 1500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot, World 3000m steeplechase champion  Conseslus Kipruto and Commonwealth Games 800m champion Wyclife Kinyamal each received Sh400,000 from the kitty donated by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA).

Others are World 800m bronze medallist Ferguson Rotich, Commonwealth Games 10,000m bronze medallist Rodgers Kwemoi and Emily Cherotich.

NOC-K president Paul Tergat awarded the athletes in Eldoret alongside NOC-K Secretary General Francis Mutuku, Athletes Representative Humphrey Kayange and General Team Manager for Tokyo Olympics Barnaba Korir.

Mutuku said the scholarships will go a long way in boosting the athletes with barely six months to the start of the Games in the Japanese capital.

“I believe with this support they will be able to adequately prepare as they can now acquire what they were lacking. Remember it has been a difficult year for our athletes owing to limited competitions,” said Mutuku.

The delegation also paid a courtesy call on Uasin Gishu County Governor Jackson Mandago who rallied for the Olympics trials to be held in Eldoret with the county having hosted successful trials in 2016 prior to the Rio Olympics.

“For the last Olympic Games, the trials were held here in Eldoret and you saw the fan base and the number of participants. It is actually like a mini-Olympics and we are ready to host the trials for the Tokyo Games,” said Mandago.

Tergat said the committee was looking for avenues including the scholarships to support athletes in order to ensure they are well prepared for the Summer Games scheduled for July 23 – August 8.

Furthermore, Tergat said they will be working closely with county governments to foster sports development in the country.