Museveni calls Kipsiro in Dehli

Hullo…this is President Museveni. Those are the some of the first words that greeted Moses Kipsiro’s ears after he received a ‘strange’ phone call on Thursday afternoon.

Yes sir, he replied on realizing that he was talking to the Head of State. President Museveni called Kipsiro to congratulate him for winning Uganda’s first Commonwealth Games gold medal on Wednesday night.

“I was humbled to talk to the President,” Kipsiro told Daily Monitor at the weekend. “He thanked me for my performance and wished me good luck in my next race.” The long distance runner is still basking in glory after suffocating Kenyan opposition to win the 5,000m final at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and returns today to compete in the 10,000m final even though a hamstring injury threatens his ambitions.

Missed opportunity

Kipsiro revealed the President asked him where he hails from and encouraged him to put in more effort in today’s race. “I only feel bad I didn’t tell him the problems keeping our sports down. I hope I will get another chance to talk to him or meet him after returning to Uganda. I wish he could help us build a running track in our home area (Bukwo),” empasising that a good track in eastern Uganda would fetch the country more medals, Kipsiro noted.

Kipsiro produced an audacious sprint to edge Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge in the 12-and-a half-lap race in 13 minutes, 31.25 seconds. His performance, the best he has produced in recent times, prompted wild celebrations here and back home. Inside the Games Village, the 24-year-old runner is currently the most sought-after star.

Deservedly so, seeing he was the first athlete to win gold in track and field. Quite often, fellow athletes from other countries bombard the Ugandan camp to shake hands and take pictures with Kipsiro. “When you come to Ghana, we shall give you two wives; one for winning silver at the Africa Championships and another for the gold on Wednesday. You are a wonderful runner,” a Ghanaian team official Jimmy teased Kipsiro on Friday.

Injury worry

But as the 10,000m final takes centre stage, Kipsiro is worried about a minor hamstring injury that hit him during a training session on Saturday morning. “I have had massage and taken painkillers, hopefully the muscle won’t disturb me in the course of the race,” Kipsiro said. “If it doesn’t react, I will surely win another medal.” Also competing today is steeplechaser Benjamin Kiplagat.