By John Kwoba
NAIROBI, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's head of delegation to the Commonwealth Games Barnaba Korir has urged athletes competing in fringe sports to work harder and increase the country's range of medal prospects in Australia.
With over 125 athletes from Kenya taking part in the games, which start today and run until April 15, Korir believes small sports like weightlifting, boxing, swimming, bowling can add to the medal haul the country expects from the competition.
"We are not taking them to Gold Coast as spectators, but serious competitors with prospects for medals," he said on Wednesday.
"It is up to them to show they deserve to be in the team and for their future considerations at the Olympics and World Championships," he added.
One of the athletes who hopes to make a name for himself is javelin thrower Alex Kiprotich, who despite facing challenges in securing professional coaches and equipment, is hopeful he can follow his mentor Olympic silver medalist Julius Yego to win a medal in Commonwealth Games.
Kiprotich said the problems Kenyan field event competitors encounter are many, and they must work hard to overcome them to stand a chance of winning at the global stage.
"Athletes in field events suffer a lot due to lack of facilities, which affects training. I have trained without a proper javelin and shoes. I was told we shall get them in Gold Coast but its difficult using things you are not used to," he told Xinhua.
Kiprotich has a personal best throw of 78.84m and will compete in the javelin at the Commonwealth Games alongside reigning champion Julius Yego.
During the last competition in Glasgow, Scotland, Kenya won 25 medals with only weightlifting and Paralympics adding a bronze medal each. Track and field events produced 23 medals - 10 gold, 10 silver and three bronze.
