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Injury forces Cheptegei’s biggest rival out of Tokyo Games
Blow. Geoffrey Kamworor, 29, had tests that confirmed he had aggravated ankle injury
What you need to know:
- Team Kenya’s technical team is expected to decide on whom to fill the gap left by Kamworor.
Joshua Cheptegei and his understudy Jacob Kiplimo, who are both targeting the 10000m gold, will line up for the first athletics medal event on Friday afternoon with possibly Uganda’s the best shot at the top prize.
Their biggest rival, Kenyan Geoffrey Kamworor, is not one they will need to beat. Team Kenya camp was on Thursday hit by a major blow after 2015 World 10000m silver medalist was ruled out of Tokyo Olympics with an injury, Kenya’s Daily Nation reported.
Kamworor, who was involved in a road accident early last year in Eldoret before making a full recovery to win the Kenyan trials for the Tokyo Games, is said to have aggravated the ankle injury he suffered in the crash.
When Kamworor won the 10000m in the Kenyan Trials last month, he was ecstatic because he knew he had the chance to get the medal he is yet to win in his successful career.
Team Kenya’s technical team is expected to decide on whom to fill the gap left by Kamworor.
The 10000m final is in six days – Friday, July 30 – on the first day of the athletics programme.
