Uganda's quest for medals at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, shifts to the track on Sunday, with middle-distance runner Racheal Chelimo carrying the nation's hopes in the women's 2000m steeplechase final at the Iba Mar Diop Complex.
Chelimo, 17, is among the five-member athletics team that arrived in Dakar on Wednesday. The athletes have been engaged in light training to recover from the 12-hour journey.
Although she is a renowned 3000m runner, Chelimo will be competing in the 2000m steeplechase for the first time. "I am ready for my new challenge. I have been training well in Teryet and I am hoping to get a medal for my country," she said.
The teenager will be making her international debut and faces stiff competition from Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes who arrived earlier at the games village. However, athletics coach Ziana Cheptoek remains optimistic about her prospects. "She is very young, capable and very flexible. She still has time to try as many races as she can," Cheptoek said.
Uganda has sent its largest contingent ever to the Youth Olympic Games and is participating in the highest number of events. With rugby, table tennis, badminton, rowing and swimming already completed, athletics remains the country's only hope for medals.
Historically, Uganda has won four medals in the last three editions of the Youth Olympics, all from athletics: one gold, one silver and two bronze. Chelimo will be aiming to add to that tally.
Meanwhile, Ugandan cyclist Ali Ssali also arrived in Dakar on Wednesday with the athletics team, accompanied by his coach Ishak Bukenya. Ssali, who performed well in this year's time trial championship in Kisumu, Kenya, will compete in both the time trial and road race events at Corniche West.
As the games progress, all eyes will be on Chelimo and her teammates to deliver Uganda's first medal of this edition.
