Kenya Intensifies Medal Charge at Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics as Seven Stars Storm Finals
Sports Updated: 21 November 2025 17:26 EAT
Team Kenya’s medal quest at the Tokyo 2025 Summer Deaflympics gained fresh momentum on Friday after seven athletes qualified for their respective finals, signaling a potential medal haul in the coming days.
Leading the charge were newly crowned gold medalists Ian Wambui Kahinga (10,000m champion) and James Mwanza Musembi (1,500m champion), who once again showcased their class on the track.
In the men’s 5,000m heats at Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium, Kahinga and Musembi pushed each other from start to finish.
Kahinga clinched first place in 14:59.65, with Musembi just a breath behind at 14:59.99.
Kahinga, who took silver in the same event at the 2022 Deaflympics, said he’s not intimidated by the competition, but driven by it.
“Team Kenya is one, and I’m not worried (about the competition he is facing from Musembi). James and I have a strategy that we are going to help each other to get the best time. My goal is to get the World record,” said Kahinga.
Musembi said, “We will be running again, and the plan is to kill them all. I will get a medal.”
The final will take place at the same venue on Monday at 3:10 pm (9:10 am Kenyan time). Team Kenya’s captain, Atima, also advanced to the final of the men’s 400m hurdles scheduled for Saturday at 2:30 pm local time (8:30 am in Kenya).
Atima finished second in heat two with a time of 54.91 while Jarvis Jermaine of the United States won the race in 54.67.
“Previously, the people I competed against today had beaten me, so it gave me a lot of fear. I’m very excited to have beaten them,” said Atima, who was part of the Kenyan quartet that won a bronze medal in the 4x400m mixed relays on Monday.
Rael Wamira also progressed to the final in the women’s long jump after recording a personal best of 5.03m. She will compete in the final on Monday.
“This is my first time being in the final in the long jump, so I’m very excited. I believe that I can get the medal. I want to get to at least the six-meter mark,” she said.
Kipkorir and Okoth qualified for the final of the men’s javelin after recording throws of 50.58m and 49.66 m, respectively. They will compete in the final on Sunday. Following Team Kenya’s impressive performance in the track and field events on Friday, Kenya’s coach, Samuel Kibet, exuded confidence that the country will win more accolades in the Games.
“Our players have done well, from those competing in the javelin to running on the track. Tomorrow (Saturday), we expect those in the finals to give good accounts of themselves. Their impressive performance has given us more hope of doubling our medal tally,” the veteran tactician stated.
Kenya has so far won seven medals in the ongoing Games – two gold, three silver, and two bronze.
Tags: Deaflympics 2025 Ian Kahinga Editor's Pick James Mwanza Matters Disability
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