The Uganda national council of sports (NCS) and Uganda Athletics federation have Flagged off 21 athletes to compete for the 20th World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
The championships, scheduled for September 13–21, will see Uganda represented in a wide range of disciplines including the marathon, 10,000m, 5,000m, 800m, 1,500m, 3,000m, and 3,000m steeplechase. The team features 11 women and 10 men.
The team has been training at the Trinity Bible College in Kapchorwa District. They will depart for Tokyo in three batches, with the first group flying out of the country today.
Chemutai leads the steeplechase contingent alongside Loice Chepkwemoi, while Nakaayi returns to defend her crown in the 800m.
Other standout names in the women’s squad include Sarah Chelangat and Joy Cheptoyek in the long distance track races, and marathoners Stella Chesang, Juliet Chekwel, and Mercyline Chelangat.
Two-time Olympic Oscar Chelimo, Kiplimo’s half-brother, will be in the 5,000-metre race. He hopes to perform better than his 2022 bronze medal.
Victor Kiplangat, the World marathon champion, is also keen on retaining his title that he won two years ago at Heroes’ Square in Budapest, Hungary. UAF have also added Stephen Kissa to the list. He is remembered for coming fourth after recovering from a fall at a water point in Budapest.
The federation also gave two other marathon slots to Abel Chelangat and Solomon Mutai. The latter won bronze at the 2015 Worlds in Beijing, China as well as silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in Australia.
The team will shake off the cold feet and perform without Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo.
For the past 10 years, Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) president Dominic Otucet explain to the media why the pair would be absent, but maintained they are prepared to perform without them.
“Whereas the two had qualified, they have indicated to us they are not in a position to go to Tokyo,” Mr Otucet told the 21-runner team to Japan.
He added that, as a federation, “we have respected their position.”
Cheptegei and Kiplimo pride in a combined four Olympic medals that contribute to the total 13-medal cabinet that Uganda has won.
Since his London edition in 2017, Cheptegei has won three straight 10,000 meters titles and a silver in the World Championships. The Olympic champion now prefers to run the Amsterdam Marathon in the Netherlands on October 19.
Kiplimo, on the other hand, will run the Chicago Marathon in Illinois, USA, on October 12.
