Kenya’s Ambassador to Qatar, H E Paddy C Ahenda, poses with the QSM trophy alongside strongest man athletes and embassy staff.
Doha: The Kenyan Ambassador to Qatar H E Paddy C Ahenda has lauded the achievement of the Kenyans who competed in the Qatar Strongest Man (QSM) competition, which concluded recently.
While hosting the athletes (Christopher Oketch, Meshack Otieno Ogola, Joseph Oketch, Abraham Abonyo, and Joseph Iroo Ekadeli), the Ambassador said Kenyans continue to make the country proud in sports citing the country’s dominance in long-distance races. He praised Oketch and his group for promoting the country’s image positively in Qatar.
Oketch won his sixth consecutive title as Qatar’s strongest man, followed by his compatriot Ekadeli in second. Oketch has dominated the sport after dethroning fellow Kenyan Ekadeli, who won the inaugural edition in 2013. Oketch is also a two-time Kenyan Strongest Man winner and holds records in several categories.
“It is everybody’s pleasure that wherever Kenyans are, they excel in any sport. It is the embassy’s pleasure to meet and congratulate these strong men. Their achievement is part of cultural diplomacy, and we will continue to support them as they have put Kenyans on the map of Qatar,” Ahenda said.
He urged the athletes to continue to keep the Kenyan flag flying, adding that the embassy is open to supporting Kenyans in all their endeavour.
Besides, the Deputy Head of Mission Ambassador Washington Oloo called on the athletes to encourage the younger generation to take up the challenge in the sport. He noted that the athletes’ success could be a beacon for others to follow.
Meanwhile, commenting on his victory and the embassy’s acknowledgment, the six-time champion said he’s inspired by the embassy’s gesture and hopes the Kenyans complete a podium sweep of the event soon.
“I have been competing in the contest since 2014, but we as Kenyans compete as a group. Our goal is to sweep the podium, but this year we could only manage the top two positions,” Oketch said.
“The level of competition in Qatar is very high. There are some good athletes from the US, Canada, and Chad. The competition demands not only strength, but also discipline and endurance,” he added.
