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The sprint rowers will be the first Kenyans to compete before the men's and women’s handball teams take to the sand.
Harrison Malenga and Diana Natecho will be flying Kenya’s flag on the waters of Hammamet, Tunisia on Saturday when they saddle up for their first event in sprint beach rowing.
The duo, alongside their coach Mathew Lidaywa, have been training in Tunisia for the past week and acclimatising as well as getting used to competition equipment, and they say they are ready to do their best in the competition.
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The team has been in training camp in Malindi, in anticipation of the African Beach Games with a strong eye to qualify for the World Beach Games.
“We have been here for a week now, and we are getting used to the equipment and the water as well and I believe we are doing okay. We are preparing to do our best and the target is to try to fight for a medal position and qualify for the World Championship," said Lidaywa.
"The competition will be stiff because there are countries that have had access to this equipment for longer. The hosts Tunisia of course are used to the water and they will have an advantage. But we are ready,” he added.
Malenga will be competing in a Kenyan jersey for the first time and he says he is excited, and echoes the coach’s sentiment that they will battle for a medal.
“I am really excited to be competing for Kenya. I have only participated once outside the country when I traveled to South Africa in February, but it was just a friendly tour," said Malenga.
"The past week has been really beneficial being here and getting used to everything. At first, the waves were too strong for me but now I am used to it. I am ready for a medal fight."
Natecho, meanwhile, is competing in her second international event, having had prior experience from Namibia last year, but this will be the first time doing sprint beach rowing.
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“We are really confident as a team and personally also, I feel ready. It is our first time using such boats but training with them since last week has helped us get used to them and have some confidence as well. We are now ready,” she added.
The sprint rowers will be the first Kenyans to compete before the men's and women’s handball teams take to the sand.
In the sprint rowing event, the competition involves a one-on-one race starting with a 30-50m run in the sand to board a boat. They will then board the boats and row in a 250m distance then turn around straight to the beach then finish with another 30-50m run.
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