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Makokha sails into Deaflympic semis

Wednesday, May 11th, 2022 00:00 | By
Isaac Makokha keenly looks at putt during the ongoing Deaflympics Summer Games in Caxias do Sul, Brazil yesterday. PD/ SPORTSPICHA

Golfer Isaac Makokha yesterday stormed into the semi-finals of the Deaflympics Golf competition after beating his South African opponent Charles Williams in the quarters of the men’s match played at the Caxias Do Sul Golf Club in Brazil. 

The 31-year-old Vet Lab golfer who made his debut in the Deaflympics Games in 2017 when he finished sixth in the individual category in Samsun, will now meet Denmark’s Lasse Emil Nielsen in the semi-finals. 

Meanwhile, Deaf Golf Federation’s plans to introduce the game to deaf ladies and children are in advanced stages. 

Federation president Daniel Ogembo made the announcement on the sidelines of stroke play where Kenya was represented by stars Isaac Makokha and Gilbert Alikula while Adan Wario dropped out because of injury. 

Ogembo said: “When we go back to Kenya, we want to start a programme for the ladies. Right now, we only have men here, we feel like it is important to include ladies so that next time we have more ladies becoming golfers.”  

“We need to achieve gender balance because some countries have brought ladies. This competition has been a learning experience,” he said. 

He added: “We want to start a training programme for junior deaf golfers and we are going to partner with some schools.”

Deaf children

His sentiments were echoed by coach and Kenya Golf Union’s chief executive officer (CEO) Vincent Wang’ombe. 

“We need to get more golfers playing this game. We have started a program with Isaac to train deaf children,” Wang’ombe said. 

During the ongoing Deaflympic Summer Games, Kenyan golfer Wario pulled out of the competition due to injury while Alikula was eliminated after stroke play.  

Makokha advanced to the quarter-final stage which now will be a match-play to the end of the competition.  

Wario suffered a deep cut on the finger on the last day of training before the first round of competition. 

He pulled out of competition in hole 14 due to excessive bleeding after the wound opened up.  

Wang’ombe and Wario backed Makokha to win a medal for the country.

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