By Shadrack Andenga
Badminton Kenya ( BK ) will be sending a team to the All Africa Seniors Championships in Botswana, Gaborone, slated for 9-15th February 2026 and another one to the World Para Badminton Championships in Bahrain that begins on 8th to 14th February 2026.
Speaking on Saturday evening in Nairobi when seeing off the first batch of Para Badminton players that left the country to Bahrain the same day, Team Manager Benson Owano thanked the Kenya Government for their support saying that these two championships will set the right foot to Kenyan players with their main objective being to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and Paralympics Games in the USA.
” This is the first step for us and we are glad to have both the able bodied and disabled players. We have been training well for the last three weeks and I believe both teams will come up with good results,” said Owano.
Owano will manage the Gaborone bound able bodied athletes and will have Francis Njoroge as their coach and Agnes Odinga as the Chaperone, a team that consists of seven men and five ladies.
Njoroge’s charges will have Kenya number 1 ranked Badminton player Sammy Sikoyo as Captain and will lead John wanyoike,
Dennis Simiyu, Wilkie Keragori, Joseph Matheri Githitu, Patrick kinyua and
Edwin Akwanyi.
Kenya number 2 ranked, the experienced Jacinta Sengera will captain a ladies team that has also number 1 ranked Naomi wandili, while the others are Brittney Misoy Blessing Buyanzi and Yvonne Mwikali.
The Bahrain bound charges that left the country on Saturday evening, with the others leaving on Sunday afternoon, will be coached by Erick Ngumi and managed by Wilson Githinji.
The two have selected Africa number 1 ranked player Anthony Ojwang of class SH6 as team captain, to lead Africa silver medalist Mary Nduku, SL3, Africa Gold medalist Benson Nduva, class SL4, while others are World Abilitysport air Para Badminton Relays Gold medalists Caleb omollo of class SU 5 and Elizabeth Nabwire, SL4.
Corrine Mwangi of class SH 6 and
Ann Syombua of wheelchair 1 are the other two completing the roster of the Kenyan men and women that are hoping to bring glory back home.
