Kenya’s Seline Ahoya and Uganda’s Samuel Okello will headline Thursday’s tennis finals at the ANOCA Zone 5 Youth Games after contrasting semi-final displays at Kenyatta University on Wednesday, while Kenya also secured all-national finals in beach volleyball and topped the judo medal standings.
Ahoya, 17, booked an all-Kenyan girls’ final against Nancy Kawira after maintaining her unbeaten run. The Lavington Girls Secondary School student humbled compatriot Jenerica Thuku 6-2, 6-2 before defeating Tanzanian Hadija Msangi to complete the round-robin phase.
Playing only her second tournament of the year after a three-month break, Ahoya said she was pleased with her progress and is targeting the title.
“I am happy with the way the tournament is going for me because I have won all my matches so far and I am so proud of myself,” she said.
Kawira, from Mbagathi Girls High School, fought back from 4-2 down against Michelle Murage to win their opening-set battle after Murage committed several errors, including a double fault and three consecutive service errors. Kawira later dismissed Ugandan Lilian Ayee 6-3, 6-4 to reach the final.
“I changed my attitude and energy, started pumping myself up and putting the balls in,” explained Kawira.
In the boys’ event, Okello swept aside Kenya’s Jyan Patel 6-3, 6-1 to reach the final against another Kenyan Mark Murage, who stunned compatriot Mwakio 7-5, 3-6, 10-5. Earlier, Okello had trounced Kenya’s Dohn Kelly Ochieng 6-2, 6-2.
Mwakio, 18, from Highway Secondary School in Nairobi, had earlier overwhelmed Somalia’s Asad Ibrahim 6-0, 6-0. Ochieng, 17, of Rabondo High School in Migori County, observed lack of coaching and equipment was limiting his development. The self-taught player, who began playing in Form Two in 2023, uses YouTube for training and admires Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz.
“Tennis needs coaching. You cannot train well when you are just using your phone,” said Ochieng, adding that he has only one racquet belonging to his school.
In judo, Kenya topped the medal standings with five gold, three silver and one bronze as athletes continued their preparations for the Youth Olympics.
Rahel Kulova won women’s under-52kg gold after moving up from under-48kg specifically with the Youth Olympics in mind. Quinter Gracious took silver in the same category.
John Ouko claimed men’s under-73kg gold, with refugee athlete Christian Yafunga taking silver, while Kelvin Onganya won the under-66kg title ahead of compatriot Isaac Otieno. Refugee athlete Arnold Yafunga took bronze.
Kenya’s other gold medals came through Haron Benson in the men’s under-60kg and Abuta Vincent in the under-90kg category. Triza Juma won silver in the women’s under-63kg division, with Rosemary Wanjiru taking bronze.
Coach Peterson Mbugua explained that the competition was important in identifying athletes capable of representing Kenya at the Youth Olympics. He said the federation is also working to introduce judo in schools.
In cycling, Kenya’s Franklin Kibet won silver in the men’s 20km individual time trial in 29:18 behind Ethiopia’s Legese Selemon Gebreslesie. Mevin Njuguna was fourth in 30:01, Geoffrey Chege Mburu fifth in 30:32 and Victor Ngugi Githae sixth in 30:48.
Kibet, 17, was competing for the Kenya Cycling Federation for the first time and added the silver was a major motivation.
In the women’s 10km time trial, Kenya’s Mercy Eragae won bronze in 16:19, while Sharon Cheruiyot was fifth in 20:15, Naomi Jeptanui sixth in 21:33 and Linda Ochola seventh in 22:27. Rwanda’s Akimana Donath won gold in 14:56.
Eragae, an Africa School Games bronze medallist, said her focus was now on improving for the Youth Olympics, while Cheruiyot disclosed that her training was progressing well and revealed that her mother inspired her to take up cycling.
Kenya is assured of gold and silver in both beach volleyball competitions after all-Kenyan finals were confirmed.
In the girls’ event, Kenya 1 reached the final unbeaten, while Kenya 2, represented by St Cecilia Aluor Girls Secondary School pair Josephine Achieng and Esther Chesori, floored South Sudan 2-0 (21-18, 21-18). They will meet compatriots Eddah Jepkemei and Anne Akiro who had earlier defeated them 2-0.
Chesori said they were determined to avenge that defeat, while Achieng hailed the tournament for giving them valuable international exposure.
In the boys’ competition, Kenya 2’s Askanas Kipkorir and Collins Kipkosgei reached the final after edging Uganda 2-1 (21-14, 14-22, 15-12). They will play Kenya 1’s Emmanuel Kipkirui and Reegan Kipchirchir, who thrashed South Sudan 2-0 (21-14, 21-14).
Kipchirchir noted that the final would feel like a friendly match because both teams are Kenyan, but stressed that the gold medal would be at stake.
Kenya’s swimmers have also made a strong start, collecting six gold and six silver medals. Among those chasing further success are 16-year-old Macrine Kalombo, team captain Yanick Muigai and Isabelle Mwangi.
Kalombo, who competed in the women’s 100 metres freestyle and 50m breaststroke, observed that the Games were valuable preparation for the Youth Olympics. Muigai, who raced in the 200m butterfly and freestyle, admitted his individual performance fell short of expectations, but welcomed the experience. Mwangi, who competed in the 100m freestyle and relay, noted that the competition had strengthened team spirit as she targeted gold in her next race.
ANOCA Zone 5 Local Organising Committee chairperson Angela Luchivya explained that the government support had been crucial, although short notice for preparations caused delays in funding and procurement. She added that the lessons would help improve future planning and called for greater investment in sporting infrastructure and more regular ANOCA competitions.
Luchivya described the Games as a vital high-performance platform for assessing young athletes’ readiness for Dakar and said sport remained a largely untapped industry requiring sustained investment.
All finals are expected to be held on Thursday.
