This archive report was first published on 9 January 2020.
January 9, 2020, marked a historic day for Kenya's female volleyball team, Malkia Strikers, as they secured a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
With a 3-0 win over Nigeria in their final match, the team, led by coach Paul Bitok, achieved their goal of qualifying for the Olympics after 16 years of near-misses and heartbreak.
The team's journey to the Olympics began with a 3-1 win over Egypt in their first match, followed by a 3-0 victory over Botswana, and a thrilling 3-2 win over hosts and arch-rivals Cameroon.
Kenya's recent history in the Olympics is marked by pain and emotional energy, with the team last participating in the 2004 Athens Games.
Coach Bitok's strategy paid off as he started with his preferred first six players, including Mercy Moim, Leonida Kasaya, Edith Wisa, Violet Makuto, Sharon Chepchumba, and Jane Wacu. The team dominated the first set, leading 8-2 at the first technical timeout and eventually winning 25-15.
"We just wanted to enjoy ourselves and complete the job. I am happy that the girls won without dropping a set. Our focus shifts to Olympics and once we get home we will sit with the federation to chat the way forward in terms of preparations," said Coach Bitok.
The team's top scorers were Sharon Chepchumba with 11 points, and Mercy Moim and Edith Wisah with 10 points each.
