Kenya continued scaling up the medal ladder at the ongoing 2021 Deaflympics Games in Brazil, after securing gold in men’s 1500m and bronze in the Women’s 400m contest.
Debutant Ian Wambui Kahinga cruised past the tape, claiming the gold medal in a timed finishing of 3.55.54 ahead of Jaime Morga of Spain (3.56.18) and Alexander Blei of Germany (3.57.10).
Moments later, Linet Nanjala, who was part of Team Kenya that Monday won silver medal in mixed relays, added more honors to her name by bagging bronze in the women’s 400m.
Ukrainians Kristina Kiniankina and Solomiia Kuprych finished first and second in 57.58 and 57.98 respectively.
Men’s 1,500m defending champion John Koech did not compete in the race, because he has been slotted in the men’s 800m contest after failing the national trials held in Nairobi.
An elated Kahinga said he will now go for the 5,000m title held by compatriot Symon Cherono Kibai.
“The win is a big motivation to me ahead of the 5000m. It will be a tough one since Kibai will be in the same race but I hope to beat him,” said Kahinga.
The two additional medals moved Kenya to 12th in the medal table with a total of nine medals (two gold, three silver and four bronze).
Kenya, who hope to improve from their ninth place finish at the 2017 Turkey Games, tops in Africa, while Ukraine leads globally with 89 medals (42 gold, 22 silver and 25 bronze.