Nairobi: The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) has awarded the Kenya Women's National Hockey Team, known as the Blades, an IOC Scholarship worth USD 50,000 (Sh6.4M). This grant aims to enhance the team's high-performance preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

According to Kenya News Agency, the scholarship is part of the Olympic Solidarity 'LA 2028 Scholarship' Programme, which supports athletes with a strong potential to qualify for the 2028 Olympics. The funding will be available from January next year until 2028, providing consistent support throughout the Olympic cycle. With their current ranking as second in Africa, the Kenya Women's Hockey Team is positioned as one of the country's strongest prospects.

As part of NOC-K's broader LA 2028 qualification strategy, three additional team sports will receive similar IOC scholarships in the coming weeks. This effort aims to expand Kenya's Olympic footprint and deepen the country's talent pathway.

NOC-K President Shadrack Maluki announced at City Park Stadium Nairobi that the funds are directed towards high-performance preparation, structured training programmes, international exposure, and coaching and athlete support systems. He emphasized the international confidence this funding reflects in the future of the Kenyan women's hockey team.

Maluki outlined the journey to LA 2028, which focuses on strong talent identification, athlete pipeline development, international competition exposure, coaching education, sports science integration, and the promotion of gender equity and women's participation in sport. This strategic focus supports NOC-K's ambition to increase Kenya's delegation size for the LA 2028 Olympics, including at least two qualified team sports.

The NOC-K President stressed that the support framework confirms women's team sports as a core pillar of Kenya's Olympic future. He highlighted the goal of including at least three new sports in Team Kenya for LA 2028, building upon the foundation laid at Paris 2024.

Maluki stated that targeting at least three team sports at the LA 2028 Olympics is crucial because team sports foster national belief and visibility. He outlined a performance target of at least ten gold medals at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, representing a new era of professionalism and global competitiveness for Kenyan sport.

He urged the team to carry not just their personal dreams but also the Olympic aspirations of the nation, stressing discipline, commitment to clean sport, and adherence to Olympic values. The preparation for Los Angeles 2028 begins now, with every training session and international match counting towards their goal.

Maluki assured that NOC-K will work with stakeholders to ensure athletes thrive in a safe, fair, and professional environment. He reaffirmed the non-negotiable commitment to athlete well-being, safeguarding, anti-doping compliance, and competition integrity.

He expressed gratitude to Olympic Solidarity, the International Hockey Federation, and the Kenya Hockey Union for their support and leadership. Maluki also acknowledged the coaches, technical officials, parents, and partners who support the athletes daily.

Other officials present included IOC Member Paul Tergat, Secretary General John Ogola, Deputy Treasurer Charles Mose, Women Representative Doreen Okiri, and Kenya Hockey Union board officials led by Colonel (Rtd) Nashon Randiek.