Kenya: Country's 'Golden Moment'

Kenya yesterday launched its medal hunt at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi with the first gold coming from the unlikeliest of sources.

Jason Dunford's victory in the 50-metre butterfly final marked Kenya's first ever swimming gold medal at games of such magnitude, and buried the myth that it's only in track events that Kenya's hopes for gold lie.

Jason's victory follows years of dedication, sacrifice and personal investment without the all-too-familiar cry that the government should help the "smaller" sports grow.

That we can dig gold from the pool is proof that with more focus, Kenya can rake in medals from sporting disciplines we traditionally ignore.

Credit must go to the government and the National Olympic Committee for casting the net wider and sending a big delegation to Delhi, fielding teams in such diverse sports as archery, table tennis, badminton, cycling, squash and lawn bowling.

As we celebrate Jason's landmark gold, we hope Kenya can build on such performances to set a solid base for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.