BY DAVID NDOLO
Kenyan deaf golf ace Isaac Makokha is a man on a mission. He is determined to convert his bronze medal won in 2022 in Brazil into gold at the forthcoming Tokyo 2025 Summer Deaflympics set for Japan on November 15-26.
The recent victories on the fairways nestled by the 33-year-old hard hitter has buoyed Makokha ahead of his second appearance on the global stage where his main objective is to strike gold.
The Vet Lab Sports Club player will represent Kenya at the Tokyo showpiece alongside experienced duo of Adan Wario and Gilbert Alikula and teenage sensation Jacinta Njeri who will be making her debut in the Summer Games.
With less than two weeks remaining until the start of the Games, the Kenyan team has been fine-tuning its preparations at various golf clubs across Nairobi.
Addressing the press after the team’s training at Vet Lab Sports Club, Makokha said he is on fire and can’t wait for the Deaflympics to start.
“I have practiced well. I feel my body is in shape, I’m optimistic I will convert that bronze from Brazil into gold when I head to Tokyo,” Makokha said.
By clinching the bronze medal at the Deaflympics held in Brazil, the father of one made history as the first Kenyan deaf golfer to ever win a medal in the Games.
Makokha won the bronze medal by beating German Guldan Nico by two ups. He lost to German John Allen who went on to win the gold medal.
Makokha said he picked several lessons from the Brazil showpiece, which he has since worked on thus his confidence to bag a gold medal this time around. He is exuding confidence to beat Allen in Tokyo.
“Allen is a strong opponent but I’m ready to face him head-on. I can manage to knock him out this time, because my body is on fire,” he asserted.
To qualify for the Tokyo Deaflympics, Makokha beat 15 other local deaf golfers in several Strokeplay and matchplay championships
He singled out his triumph at the 2025 NCBA Railway Invitation Golf Tournament in September as one of the achievements that fuels his confidence of a good showing in Tokyo. In that tournament, Makokha floored abled-bodied golfers including title holder Michael Karanga.
“I have participated in several tournaments and I have won several medals and trophies. The golfers in the ongoing Sunshine Development Tour- East Africa Swing series where I also take part are very strong, I have learnt a lot from them and with that it has prepared me for Tokyo,” he said, singling-out his strength and flexibility as some of the areas he is fine-tuning on.
Makokha has pointed out lack of equipment as one of the main challenges he is grappling with in the trade.
Team Kenya deaf golf coach David Kihara tipped Makokha to shine in Tokyo saying: “He has trained very well, competed in several tough tournaments and I think this time around he is ready to bring us something bigger than the bronze medal.
