Malkia Strikers land in ‘Group of Death’ at Paris 2024 Olympics

Kenya national women’s volleyball team Malkia Striker’s chances of impressing at the Paris Olympics face a major test after they landed in a tough group following the draw conducted on Wednesday.

Malkia Strikers have been pooled in a ‘Group of Death’ that has Olympics silver medallists Brazil, European powerhouse Poland and Asian giants Japan.

It is Deja vu moment for Team Kenya as they face two teams that handed them big losses at the 2020 Olympics in Brazil and Japan.

Kenya Volleyball Federation Vice President Paul Bitok has yielded to pressure and withdrawn from his role as assistant coach of the Malkia Strikers to the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Malkia Strikers ended the Tokyo Olympics last after failing to win a set following comprehensive defeats to Brazil, Serbia, South Korea, the Dominican Republic and Japan, although they got some points on the board against the latter.

Brazil would go on to finish second and claim silver, after losing to the United States of America in the final, while Serbia clinched bronze.

Things will be tough again for Kenya this time as Brazil, ranked top in the world, come into the Olympics as one of the favourites while Poland are currently the fourth ranked nation on the FIVB standings with Japan seventh.

Kenya can get one over Japan, who also exited the 2020 edition at the group stage, despite playing at home, while seeking to limit the damage against the other two.

Unlike the Tokyo Olympics where there were two groups of six teams, with the best four progressing to the next round, there are three groups of four teams for the Paris 2024 Games.

Kenya qualified for the Olympics for the second straight time after being crowned continental champions at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon last August.

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