Olympian, Faith Ogallo, has offered to refine the skills of Kibabii University Taekwondoins as they limber up for the Kenya Universities Sports Federation (KUSF) Western Conference games slated for next week.
Ogallo, who flew the country's flag at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has been barred from competing in the bi-annual event that will run from December 17-21 at Kibabii University due to her vast experience and the edge she has as a global athlete.
Currently, on industrial attachment at the Bungoma County’s department of youth, ICT, and innovation, Ogallo said her work is to mentor her colleagues in readiness for the championships, and vowed to inspire them to the winners' podium.
“I have competed at the international platform and because of my experience and exposure, I'm not allowed to compete. Given that I am not at the training camp physically most of the time, students train and send me the videos for advice and moral support,” she said.
Ogallo said the Bungoma-based institution will present fighters in all eight categories of the sport, although they may experience a challenge in fielding a female competitor in the heavyweight division.
“I sometimes train them physically and during that period, I have noticed that there are no girls to compete in the heavyweight category,” she said.
Ogallo, who was the only Kenyan Taekwondoin in Tokyo, crashed out at the preliminary stage of the competition after losing to Serbian Milica Mandic 13-0 in the +67kg category.
She secured an automatic berth at the Games after bagging bronze during the Africa Taekwondo Championships held in Senegal as well as silver at the 12th edition of Africa Games held in Rabat, Morocco.
She has also previously won bronze at the Dubai G2 games as she headed for the games.
KUSF secretary-general Joseph Sandagi described the forthcoming event as the “Universities’ Olympic Games” where participants will compete in various disciplines, including football, volleyball, basketball, handball, and racquet games among others.
“We have games that, if arranged alphabetically, include A-Z,” said Sandagi.
