Team Uganda enjoyed her most successful day thus far at the ongoing Commonwealth Games as Jacob Kiplimo won the 10,000-metre final Tuesday, August 2 night in Birmingham, England.
Kiplimo lived up to the pre-event billing by muscling his way to the gold medal in the winning time of 27 minutes 09.19 seconds to set wild celebrations at the Alexander stadium.
There was more to Kiplimo’s triumph as his winning time is now the Commonwealth Games record and his season best.
Kenya’s Daniel Simiu Ebenyo (27 minutes 11.26 seconds) and Kandie Kibiwott (27 minutes 20.34 seconds) clinched silver and bronze medals respectively.
Kiplimo triumph means Team Uganda has two gold medals so far from the athletics track, following Victor Kiplangat’s marathon victory last week.
Before Kiplimo’s win, another Ugandan runner Halimah Nakaayi booked a slot to the women’s 800m final. Nakaayi finished second in Heat 1 of the qualifying race after clocking one minute 59.35 seconds.
In the boxing ring at the Exhibition Centre, Owen Isaac Kibira defeated Bangladesh’s Hossan Ali to storm the quarterfinals in the welterweight category. Kibira won the contest on unanimous points (5-0) decision.
CHESANG DEFENDS
Meanwhile, Kiplimo’s stellar performance comes in handy for Stella Chesang, who will defend her title in the women’s 10,000m race on Wednesday (August 3) night on the same Alexander stadium track. Chesang won the gold medal four years ago in Gold Coast, Australia. She will be joined in the final by compatriot Sarah Chelangat. And, that final is another potential gold mine for Uganda to extend her medal tally.
Furthermore, on Wednesday (August 3) boxers Joshua Tukamuhebwa and Teddy Nakimuli, the only Ugandan female pugilist at the games, have a chance to ensure they win at least bronze for the country.
Tukamuhebwa will slug it out with Canada’s Wyatt Sanford in a quarterfinal welterweight bout while Nakimuli takes on Sierra Leone’s Sara Haghighat-Joo in the flyweight category.