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Korir predicts podium sweep in 800m race at Tokyo Games

Thursday, July 29th, 2021 00:00 | By
Emmanuel Korir.

Emmanuel Korir has predicted that Kenya will have a good outing in the men’s 800m race at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics Games when track and field competition begin tomorrow.

Men’s 800m heats will be held on Saturday, with the finals slated for August 4.

The two lap race is expected to produce fireworks at the Summer Games with the Kenyan team announcing their readiness and declaring that they are up to the task to retain the title held by two-time champion David Rudisha.

Michael Saruni, Ferguson Rotich and Korir have been tasked with continuing Kenya’s dominance in the two-lap race at the Games that extends for over two decades.

“I hope to get to the podium this time. I believe we have a very strong team that can bring medals home.

We hope all of us will make it past the heats and semis and hopefully we will meet at the finals and try to be at the podium,” Korir told People Sport.

As Kenya enters the post-Rudisha era, Korir who also trains in the US alongside Saruni said they will approach the Games just like any other competition while also backing the team to sweep the podium.

“Actually, I don’t feel any pressure since we will be coming up against athletes we have been facing before.

It is only the stage that might have changed. I think we have a very good team which is capable of sweeping the podium but it will be very competitive with the likes of (Nigel) Amos also in the mix,” said Korir.

US-based Michael Saruni said he is ready to carry the Kenyan flag as he makes his debut at the Games.

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