In this March 3, 2019 photo, Kenya's Bedan Karoki crosses the finish line at the Tokyo Marathon in Tokyo. (KAZUHIRO NOGI / AFP)
NAIROBI - Former world half marathon silver medalist Bedan Karoki said he will continue training and is hopeful that competition will resume from October.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic ruining any hopes of competition in early 2020, Bedan Karoki will train his eyes in remaining fit in his training base in Tokyo
Karoki, who finished fifth at the 2020 Tokyo Marathon clocking 2:06:15, said a return to the Chicago marathon in October is on the cards.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic ruining any hopes of competition in early 2020, Karoki will train his eyes in remaining fit in his training base in Tokyo, where he signed up with Toyota company's athletics team.
"Hopefully, competition will resume later this year. I was lucky to compete in Tokyo, though it was a unique race as there were no fans and it was only limited to the elite athletes," Karoki said on Tuesday.
The 2018 Tokyo marathon silver medalist had two appearances in the 10,000m event at the Olympics, in London 2012 and Rio 2016. He was fifth in London clocking 27:32.94 but had a poor run in Rio where he was in position seven despite clocking a faster time of 27:22.93.
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Should he be upgraded from the reserve bench in the Tokyo Games in 2021, Karoki will be able to compete in his third Olympics.
"I want to run at the Olympics again, this time in marathon. But I have to be patient and pray, they upgrade me to the main team. I am on the reserve and that is why I have to continue planning to race in any competition to remain relevant," he added.
His decision to return to Japan and sign up with Toyota will help him survive the economic meltdown imposed on the athletes and sports world due to coronavirus.
"I am lucky because I can earn from training and being here in Japan. But there are no group training. We are only doing individual training to keep us fit. My new company has huge training ground that we can practice as much we want. But someday, this pandemic will end and sports will return, I have high hopes to run soon," he said.
