NAIROBI, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan team jets out in two batches for the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina buoyant of better performance against strong global challenge.
Head of delegation Anthony Kariuki left on Monday night with the athletics team of 12 which will be aiming to beat last competition mark in Nanjing (China) 2014, where Kenya won five medals - two gold, two silver and one bronze.
The hockey team, which has nine players and a coach, will jet out on Wednesday with the Youth Olympics due to start on Oct. 4 through to 16 in the Argentine capital.
"Our boys' hockey team leaves on Wednesday for their debut in Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires 2018. We wish them well," said Kenya's Olympic Body NOCK president Paul Tergat on Tuesday.
With a modest budget of 350,000 U.S. dollars, Kenya team will be among the countries with the lean team.
But Tergat is certain the competition will offer important experience to the young sportsmen, who will soon be carrying the country's flag at senior Olympics starting with Tokyo in 2020.
In athletics, Kenya will be having Africa Youth javelin champions Martha Nthanza Musai, who won gold in girls' championship at the Africa Youth Games in Algeria in June. She will be accompanied by Ita Nao, who claimed silver in boys' javelin throw event.
"Continental youth javelin champ Musai is a sole rep in the event from Africa in Olympic Youth Games. She holds an African record of 54.12m, which is indeed a clear epitome of the latent talent in Kenya," added Tergat.
Others in the track team include Fancy Cherono, who won gold in girls' 2,000m steeplechase and Dennis Mutuku Matheka, the silver winner in the boys' competition.
There is also Edinah Jebitok and Nickson Pariken, who excelled in the IAAF Under-18 World championships in Nairobi last year.
Francis Leshoo and Angela Ndungwa will battle in boys' and girls' 800m with Jackson Kavesa and Mercy Chepkorir making the 3,000m team.
Kenya will only have a sole representative in the swimming event led by Africa champion and Germany-based Maria Brunlehner.
