Veteran Kinjah makes the cut for Gold Coast

What you need to know:

  • Newcomers Kangangi, Gathere, Kipkemboi also named in cycling team.
  • Evergreen cyclist among a team of four named in the Kenyan team for the April ‘Club’ Games.

Ever green David Kinjah has made Kenya’s cycling team for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games for April 4 to 15 in Australia.

Kinjah, a veteran of over two decades on the bike saddle and handle bar, is among four cyclists, who were picked during the African Continental Road Championships in Kigali, Rwanda last weekend.

Kinjah, who is a specialist in time trials, teams up with newcomers Salim Kipkemboi, Suleiman Kangangi and Peter Gathere. Reserves are Geoffrey Lagat, Joseph Gichora and Geoffrey Wekesa.

Kinjah will be making his fifth appearance at the “Club” Games after 1998 Kuala Lumpur, 2002 Manchester, 2006 Melbourne and 2014 Glasgow.

It’s in Melbourne where Kinjah teamed up with four times Tour de France champion Kenyan-turned Briton Chris Froome.

Kipkemboi was the best place Kenyan in 15th place at the continental cycling championships last week where Eritrean Amanuel Gebreigzabhier triumphed.

“I am glad to make it to Gold Coast and I think my main role in the team will be mentorship and guidance,” said the 46-year-old Kinjah.

“We need to develop new riders and have the numbers grow besides bringing that energy and synergy.”

Team manager Charles Mose said the cyclists will camp in Muranga. Technical officials to handle the cycling team will be announced later this week.

Cycling is among four disciplines to name their Kenyan teams for the “Club” Games. Others are shooting, badminton and para-swimming.

Swimming will be the last of 16 disciplines to pick its squad at the three-day National Swimming Gala starting on Friday.

Women air pistol firers Linet Owiti and Maryanne Cheruiyot join Gurupreet Dhanjal and Gulraaj Sehmi from small-bore and full-bore’s Christopher Saina in the shooting team.

The small-bore and full-bore contestants had been picked earlier, leaving the remaining two slots for air pistol.

Mercy Joseph and Victor Odera will slug it out for Kenya in badminton after they prevailed in their respective events during the two-day selection over the weekend.