African Games singles tennis champion, Angela Okutoyi of Kenya, reckons the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Scholarship worth Sh6.5 million (US$ 50,000) awarded to her will improve boost her chances of qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games.
In the run-up to the 2024 Olympic Games, Okutoyi failed to qualify for the quadrennial championship through the qualifiers.
Having failed to get a direct ticket to the championships, the 21-year-old, who is a student at Auburn University in the United States of America, was treated to anxious moments as she waited to qualify through ranking, but that was never to be because players ranked higher took all the available slots.
She now hopes to use the scholarship to prepare well and earn a higher world ranking and guarantee herself a place at the 2028 Olympic Games.
Kenya's Angella Okutoyi celebrates after winning her semi final match against Zuzanna Pawlikowska of Poland during W35 ITF World Tennis Tour at Parklands Sports Club on January 3, 2026.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
“My main goal is to make it to LA through world ranking rather than wait for the African Games next year to qualify,” said Okutoyi, who won the African Games in 2024, but her inferior world ranking of 491 saw her miss the games.
At the time, Okutoyi needed a world ranking of 400 and below, in addition to the African title, to qualify as the African champion. Alternatively, a world ranking of 100 and below would have seen her qualify for 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Okutoyi is one of eight athletes from various disciplines, and members of two Kenya sevens rugby teams who have received IOC Scholarship totalling Sh65 million (US$ 500,000). The money is meant to support the training needs of the players in the run-up to the 2028 Olympic Games.
Kenya Sevens Shujaa and Kenya Lionesses players received IOC Scholarships worth Sh6.5m (US$50,000) each. The scholarship period runs from January through to 2028.
Kenya Shujaa players and the trio received similar support ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games held in Paris, where Ndolo became the first Kenyan to compete in fencing at the Olympics.
Kenya's fencing queen Alexandra Ndolo during the interview on NTV sports show SportOn at Nation Centre, Nairobi on April 01, 2024.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Shujaa have featured in the last three editions of the Olympic Games - 2016 Rio de Janeiro, 2020 Games Tokyo, and 2024 Games in Paris. Kenya Lionesses missed out on the 2024 Olympics, but competed in Rio and in Tokyo.
The other athletes who benefited from the scholarships are Joshua Amunga Mboya (weightlifting), Juliana Anyango Ongonga (weightlifting), Mahabila Mathayo Matonya (wrestling), and swimmers Haniel Maindi Bwaku Kudwoli and Sara Faustyna Mose.
National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) president, Shadrack Maluki, said that the funds will be directed towards preparations for high-performance, including training programmes, international exposure, coaching support, and athlete welfare.
In December 2025, Maluki handed over scholarships worth Sh6.5m (US$ 50,000) to the national women’s hockey team, to help them prepare and qualify for 2028 Olympics.
“This scholarship fund will help these athletes as they prepare for 2028 Olympics. NOC-K is determined to give our teams and individual athletes all resources at our disposal,” Maluki said on Tuesday when he handed over the scholarships at Parklands Sports Club in Nairobi.
Paris 2024 Olympics - Fencing - Women's Epee Individual Table of 32 - Grand Palais, Paris, France - July 27, 2024. Alexandra Ndolo of Kenya in action against Olena Kryvytska of Ukraine.
Maluki’s second deputy, Nashon Randiek, and NOC-K secretary general John Ogolla handed over the scholarships to Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) chairperson Harriet Okach on behalf of Shujaa and Lionesses at RFUEA ground.
The support comes at a crucial moment for Kenyan rugby teams as they intensify preparations for the first leg of the World Rugby Sevens Division II tournament, and the Nairobi Sevens tournament scheduled for February 14 to 15 at Nyayo National Stadium.
