Tokyo Olympics: Kenyans wither as boxing, sevens rugby and Tae Kwon do all exit the Games

Kenya’s Olympics medal prospects in boxing, Tae Kwon do and men’s sevens rugby have all been extinguished after the respective athletes bowed out of contention following poor results in Japan.

Shujaa, the sevens rugby squad, were the first to bow out after losing all their group matches in the hands of USA, South Africa and Ireland to finish bottom of pool C but they went on to make light work of hosts Japan in their classification match.

Hit Squad’s Tokyo Olympics campaign went up in smoke Tuesday when the two remaining boxers Elizabeth Akinyi and Elly Ajowi – lost their Round of 16 bouts. Akinyi was on the receiving end to Alcinda Hellena Panguana of Mozambique the Women’s Welterweight category via a technical knockout in Round 2, while Ajowi suffered a points loss to Cuban Julio La Cruz in the Men’s Heavyweight category.

Only four Kenyan boxers had qualified for the Olympics, the others being Nick Okoth and Christine Ongare, who were eliminated on Saturday in the round of 32 and Monday respectively.

Earlier Tuesday, Kenya’s sole Taekwondo representative Faith Ogallo suffered heartbreak after a 13-0 to Serbian Milica Mandic in the Women’s +67kg Round-of-16 contest.

Kenya’s hopes are now left on swimming featuring two swimmers but the best bet is in athletics whose programme begins on Friday with the men’s 10,000 metres final the first event harbouring at leats podium expectations at the very worst.

Malkia Strikers are also still in intention despite a losing start to their volleyball campaign, same as their beach volleyball counterparts who suffered similar fate in their opening match at the Games.