Kenya started their Paris 2024 Olympic Games volleyball campaign on a losing note after falling to Brazil 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-13) in their opening match at the South Paris Arena hall.
Apart from scoring the opening point first, Kenyans were on the receiving end throughout the match with Brazil maintaining a respectable lead in all three sets.
The Kenyan volleyballers known as Malkia Strikers began the match strongly but were ultimately let down by poor reception and blocks as the two-time Olympics champions cruised to a 25-14 win in the first set.
Coach Japheth Munala’s charges then started the second set in similar fashion, matching the Brazilians block-for-block but then lost steam as the South Americans won 25-13.
The third set was a walk in the park for the 23-time South American champions who eased to a 25-12 win, with Malkia Strikers still searching for their first ever win at the Olympics.
Malkia Strikers are the 10-time African champions while Brazil have won the 23-time South American title 23 times. This was their eighth meeting with Brazil winning all the 24 sets.
Kenya, under head coach Japheth Munala, face two-time Olympic bronze winners Poland on Wednesday.
They wind up their Group B matches against 1964 and 1976 Olympic Games gold medalists Japan on August 3.
This is Malkia Strikers’ fourth Olympic Games appearance having featured in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, 2004 Athens and the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
