Moses Kipsiro, (left) Boniface Kiprop (front) and Isaac Kiprop at a recent competition

By James Bakama in Algiers

Badminton
3rd round results
Wogute bt M.Tewodoros(ETH)
21-12, 21-10
Ekiring bt A.Salah (EGY)
21-10, 21-13
A. Davis(GHA) bt G.Najuka
2-0
A. Youssef (EGY) bt Namusisi w/o
Today
E. Ekiring v G.Okonghae (NIG)
A. Wogute v N. Lasmari (ALG)

Swimming
Heats result
50m butterfly
M. Kanyerezi 33.4 seconds

Athletics
Today’s schedule
100m (men) 1st rd
100m(men) s/final
100m(women)1st rd
100m(women) s/final
3000m s/chase final
400m (men) 1st rd
400m (women) 1st rd
400m (women) s/final
800m (men) 1st rd

WITH the boxers knocked out and no longer worrying about rationing their food to avoid weight problems, 10,000m ace Boniface Kiprop has been left to carry Uganda’s weight of expectations.

Kiprop arrived Monday night from his European camp together with another medal hopeful Abraham Chepkirwok.

“We’ve come prepared for battle,” vowed Kiprop, who has recovered from a hamstring injury he suffered four months back.

The Commonwealth 10,000m champion was immediately reminded of the country’s expectations following the boxing debacle that saw all six fighters eliminated after just two preliminary rounds .

“I am banking on you. I received strict instructions from Kampala that we should return to Uganda with medals,” was the message team manager Peninah Kabenge gave Kiprop.

Kiprop will run the 10,000m final tomorrow while African 10,000m champion Moses Kipsiro, 21 will run in the 12.5-lap 5000m final on Sunday. Kipsiro’s biggest asset is his finishing sprint—an attribute that most Ugandan long distance runners lack.

While Justine Bayiga (200m & 400m), Sam Egadu (400m), Abraham Chepkirwok (800m) and Stephen Odwar (100&200m) test action early today, it will be national steeplechase record holder Benjamin Kiplagat (below) who gets the first chance to give the country a medal.

*Edwin Ekiring and Abraham Wogute rejuvenated Uganda’s medal hopes yesterday by storming the third round of the men’s badminton singles.

Ekiring takes on Nigeria’s top seed Greg Okonghae while Wogute will be battling Africa’s top ranked player Nabil Lasmari.

Victory today will have the Ugandans a step away from the medal bracket in the games’ inaugural badminton competition.

*Max Kanyerezi improved his personal best by over five seconds but the effort was not enough to push him to the second round at the Algiers Olympic pool despite finishing fourth.

*Weightlifter Prossy Nyanja on Monday night sent organisers here into panic when she fainted after setting a new personal record.
*Members of the Africa Weightlifting Federation were caught off guard when Nyanja collapsed after lifting 82 kilogrammes in the clean & jerk.

Nyanja, who registered a 147kg total to finish fourth in the 63kg category, was rushed to a treatment area where she was put on drip.

“I suddenly saw darkness. I don’t remember anything after that,” said Nyanja, who improved by eight kilogrammes.