Is Kipsiro fit for Daegu?

Aug 23, 2011

WITH just five days to the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea there are still question marks as to whether Uganda’s top athlete is fit.

By James Bakama

WITH just five days to the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea there are still question marks as to whether Uganda’s top athlete is fit.

Moses Kipsiro has not only kept his training discreet, but reports emerging from his Elgon Athletics Camp reveal that he might not have fully recovered from bouts of typhoid and malaria he has had for months.

Efforts to get to Kipsiro yesterday were futile but family members and close aides said he was still on malaria treatment. “I am not sure whether he will travel to Korea,” said Kipsiro’s wife Bena on phone from Bukwo.

Another member of the camp said the double Commonwealth Games gold medalist and 2007 Osaka World Championship bronze medalist was recently treated in Kenya. “He has only trained thrice since the treatment,” said the aide.

But Uganda Athletics Federation secretary Beatrice Ayikoru was however surprised by the news. “I talked to Moses on Saturday and he said he was fine and set for competition. He is even supposed to departing for Daegu on Thursday.”

But other sources said the Kipsiro’s silence could be tactical. “It’s common amongst athletes to give the impression that one is not prepared. It makes your opposition lower its guard.”

There are however also those who believe that Kipsiro is just press shy. “He tends to avoid the spotlight whenever a big competition is approaching,” explained one of Kipsiro’s former coaches.

In a June interview with The New Vision, Kipsiro, who was just recovering from malaria and typhoid at the time, not only promised to be in shape for the World meet, but also vowed to improve 2007 5000m bronze in Osaka.

UAF president Domenic Otucet meanwhile is already in Daegu ahead of the rest of the Ugandan contingent.

Team to Daegu: Annet Negesa, Julius Mutekanga, Jacob Araptany, Abraham Kiplimo, Geoffrey Kusuro, Moses Kipsiro, Simon Ayeko, Benjamin Kiplagat, Jane Suuto, Stephen Kiprotich, Nicholas Kiprono, Daniel Chepyegon, Richard Soibei and Nambawa.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});