Battling Kenya fall to Poland in Olympics
Kenyan players ahead of their match against Poland during their Paris Olympics match at South Paris Arena 1, Paris, France on July 31, 2024.
What you need to know:
- Coach Japheth Munala's charges battled hard, but the Europeans proved to be too much for the 10-time African champions. They lost 3-0 (24-14,25-13,25-12) to Brazil in their opening match on Wednesday.
- Kenya will battle Japan in their final preliminary match on Saturday at 10pm.
National women's volleyball team, Malkia Strikers, lost their second Pool B match of the Paris Olympics after going down 3-0 (25-14,25-17,25-15) to Poland at the South Paris Arena on Wednesday.
Edith Wisa and Pamella Owino strikes gave Malkia Strikes a 3-1 lead against the 1964 and 1968 Olympic Games bronze medallist, but poor reception saw the Kenyan at the back foot 4-3.
It was toe-to-toe at 7-6 before Poland pulled away to lead 12-6 in the first set with reception and unforced errors costing the Kenyans even as Owino’s point put Kenya at 19-10 before losing 25-14.
Kenya's Esther Mutinda celebrates a point against Poland during their Paris Olympics match at South Paris Arena 1, Paris, France on July 31, 2024.
Owino’s strike tied the second set at 4-4 before Poland pulled away 12-6 after an attack error from Veronica Adhiambo, but Owino’s attack had Malkia Strikers closed in at 17-10. Kenya’s time out at 23-16 proved futile as they lost the set 25-17.
Poland were firmly in control in the third set to take the lead 7-1 before Adhiambo dazzled to return Malkia into the game at 7-5 before they trailed 16-10 and 19-11 before succumbing 25-15 in the last set.
Martyna Czyrnianska of Poland spikes past Emmaculate Nekesa Misoki and Trizah Atuka of Kenya during their Pool match at South Paris Arena on July 31, 2024.
It was Malkia Strikers second loss after they went down in straight sets to the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympic champions Brazil 25–14, 25–13, 25–12 in the Pool “B” outing on Monday.
Poland moved to the top of the pool with six points to book their place in the quarter-final with two wins after they beat Japan 3-1 (20–25, 25–22, 25–23, 28–26) on Sunday.
Brazil, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medallists, and Japan face off in their second match on Thursday.
