Famend athletics coach Patrick Sang’ has urged Athletics Kenya (AK) to bid for larger competitions to extend Kenya’s stature as a sports activities vacation spot.
Sang’ says the nation has confirmed its skill and capability to host world-class occasions therefore the necessity for the federation to purpose increased.
“Any sport is pushed by the viewers and followers. Each time we now have hosted world occasions, our ranking have gone very excessive. I do know the president right here (Jack Tuwei) will do extra to convey us the larger ones (occasions),” Sang’ stated.
His feedback come amid plans by AK to bid for the 2029 World Championships after unsuccessfully battling Tokyo to host this yr’s version, set for the Japanese capital in September.
Kenya has additionally up to now hosted two main athletics competitions: the World Cross Nation Championships (2007) and the World Below 20 Championships (2021).
The nation additionally harbours ambitions of internet hosting a leg of the Diamond League circuit — following within the footsteps of Morocco so far as Africa is anxious.
It’s at present the host of two World Athletics (WA) gold label occasions: the Kip Keino Traditional World Continental Tour Gold and the Sirikwa Traditional World Cross Nation Tour — the one ones in Africa.
Reflecting on the influence of the latter occasion, Sang’ stated the competitors has cemented Kenya’s place on the worldwide map whereas impacting native athletes with a platform to nurture their skills.
“We recognize AK for lobbying for the sirikwa Traditional. We’ve seen skills nurtured and nations introduced collectively. This occasion has carried out lots for us as the game of athletics and Kenya as a rustic,” the 1992 Olympic 3000m steeplechase silver medalist stated.
The 2-time world 3000m steeplechase silver medalist additional urged athletes to not ignore cross nation, noting that it performs a pivotal function of their psychological and bodily preparedness over the whole course of the season.
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“Sure, I encourage athletes to run in cross nation. That is the inspiration to construct in the direction of observe and discipline. I encourage athletes to run in cross nation, whether or not native or overseas,” he stated.
Sang loved a vibrant profession earlier than hanging his spikes to enterprise into teaching.
Other than the aforementioned medals, he additionally received gold within the males’s 3000m steeplechase on the 1987 All Africa Video games in Nairobi.
He’s the coach of two-time world document holder for the lads’s marathon, Eliud Kipchoge, and triple Olympic champion, Religion Kipyegon.