Paris 2024: Malkia strikers bow out of Olympics in defeat to Japan

Paris Olympics

Saturday, 3 August, 2024 

McCreadie Andias 

Kenya's women's volleyball team Malkia strikers lost their final group B match at the Paris Olympics on straight sets to Japan on Saturday, 3 August, 2024 at the South Paris Arena. 

The national team went down 17:25 on the first set , 22:25 on the second set and 25:12 on the final set, a result that sealed their third defeat in their group meaning that they bow out of the tournament at the tail. 

Kenya had an embarrassing start in the first set, trailing 8-1 in the early exchanges. However, Malkia Strikers rallied to collect 16 points to Japan's 17 in the remaining to lose the first set by a respectable 17-25 score.

Kenya ramped up their energy in the second set keeping Japan on level at 18-18 until they lost their grip on the dying minutes if the match allowing the Asian representatives ti progressively increase their lead, and went on to win the second set 25-22.

The third set saw a weary and poor Malkia strikers going down 8-1 in the early exchanges. Japan added more injury going 20 points while strikers struggled to hit half level. Eventually it was 12-25, their worst set of the match. 

Strikers have lost all their three matches on three sets, the first in the hands on Brazil, Poland and now Japan. They also lost an exhibition match by three sets to Puerto Rico. 

They have also failed to win an Olympic match since their debut in the Sydney 2000 Olympics and successive tournaments they've featured in Athens 2004, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024 

Group winners Brazil and Poland will proceed to the knockout stages while Japan will join Defending champions USA and Dominica Republic in a quest for the third best.

Kenya, who are the record African champions with 10 titles will now look to pull uo their socks as they prepare for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in USA.