Nairobi Star (Nairobi)
William Njuguna
8 December 2011
World and Olympics 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop has set his sights on defending his Olympic gold medal at next year’s London Olympics Games.
Kiprop, who belatedly received his gold from the Beijing Olympics edition yesterday at a colourful ceremony said his attention has now switched to winning in London next year. “I will enjoy this moment for receiving the gold medal and for the next couple of days with friends and family but uppermost in my mind, I want to defend the title again,” added Kiprop. He termed 2011 season as his best, having been crowned world champion in Daegu, South Korea and receiving the gold medal yesterday. “I can say this has been my best year in athletics. Winning the world 1,500m gold champion was sweet but receiving the Olympic gold medal is even sweeter. It’s the pinnacle of every athlete is to win Olympic gold,” he noted.
He noted that he has silenced the critics after missing out on the World Championships in Berlin. “It’s been a tough journey. When you are the favourite and you don’t perform, people will always criticise. But I am happy to say that the criticism has spurred me to work harder,” he added. Asbel finished second in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, but was upgraded to first following the disqualification of the gold medallist, Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain. Kiprop clocked 3:33.11.
National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) chairman Kipchoge Keino saluted the exploits of Kiprop, saying he deserved the gold. “I must salute Kiprop because he has done the country proud and even though the gold medal has come late, its well deserved,” noted Kipchoge. The NOCK boss called on the younger generation to persevere and emulate Kiprop who exercised patience and never complained about the predicament. “I want to ask all our young people and athletes to emulate the success of Kiprop who has done the country proud despite receiving his medal three years later,” he noted.
Sports Minister Paul Otuoma said the achievement of Kiprop will not go un-rewarded as the government will give him Sh 300,000 as part of the awards scheme. “I would like to assure Kiprop that he will get his award from the government soon and I would like to congratulate him,” noted Otuoma Mobile phone provider Safaricom presented him with Sh750,000 and presented a blackberry phone with Sh5000 worth of airtime for his effort. Commonwealth boxing bronze medallist Nick Okoth was also awarded his medal from last year’s games in New Delhi, India. Okoth received the medal after Sri Lanka’s Manju Wanniarachchi gold medal was nullified after being found guilty of an anti-doping violation.
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