The Hindu : All eyes will be on Wanyoike

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 14, 2004

Sport

Sport - Athletics

All eyes will be on Wanyoike

By Nandakumar Marar

Henry Wanyoike (right) with guide Joseph Kabunga preparing for the Mumbai marathon. — Photo: Vivek Bendre

MUMBAI, FEB. 13. Seeing is believing. Henry Wanyoike may attract more attention than many of the reputed marathoners hitting the roads in the Mumbai International Marathon 2004 this Sunday. He is blind and will be running the men's half-marathon along with the visually unaffected.

Wanyoike is no improbable dream in a dark world. He won the 2004 Hong Kong half-marathon in one hour, 10 minutes against the regular field. The 29-year-old Kenyan is asking for no favours, except a guide to give directions on the route.

The sight of a blind Wanyoike, alongwith a guide, at the finish ahead of regular half-marathoners was a surprise, not only for normal athletes who finished behind the Kenyan in Hong Kong, even the media forgot to take his photograph. The half-marathon champion was asked to run 60 metres on the home stretch again for the lensmen.

Wanyoike will be running Sunday's half-marathon along with Joseph Kibunja, striding along a half-step behind, showing the way. "He is my guide and will be linked together with a string. We have worked out signals in case I need to be alerted during the event,'' said the Kenyan, who lost his sight after suffering a stroke in 1995.

The two Kenyans, guide and athlete, shadow and leader, went on a short run on the waterfront to get a feel of the place on their first-ever India visit. "I had wanted to become a Kenyan hero as a child, seeing the way sporting heroes were treated by my countrymen. Now I have achieved a part of that dream, running in events for the blind,'' said Wanyoike, who has a 2:49 minutes time as personal best in the full marathon.

The Kenyan is now working in hospitals as counsellor, helping the blind and parents of blind children come to terms with life. "I want to take part in the Athens Olympics Paralympics event,'' remarked Wanyoike, the 2000 Sydney Paralympics 5000m gold medallist and 2003 All-Africa Games 1500m champion.

The Kenyan landed in India by chance, since the Hong Kong event sponsor, Standard Chartered, is also supporting the Mumbai marathon. "Mike DeNoma, the Stanchart ED, invited me to run in the Mumbai event after seeing me perform in Hong Kong,'' said Wanyoike, who along with guide Joseph, appear determined to stride together into Indian marathon history.

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