Emong plans academy for para-athletes

2016 Paralympic silver medalist David Emong has huge plans of establishing the first-ever academy for athletes with disabilities in Uganda.

Emong, who camps with the country’s best runners in Kapchorwa, got the inspiration from fellow world champions Stephen Kiprotich and Joshua Cheptegei, who have started athletics academies for non-disabled runners.

“Stephen and Joshua have opened academies, they help the needy talented youths with a chance to develop their athletic talent and as well get an education. I want to do the same for those with disabilities,” Emong said while officiating at the National Paralympic Games that climaxed yesterday at St Bernadette Demonstration School playground Nkozi, Mpigi.

Emong, a 2017 World Para Athletics gold medalist, must carry the same substance like Kiprotich, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist, and Cheptegei, 2018 Commonwealth double gold medalist, but lacks the multi-millions the two harvest from the lucrative European circuits every year. How then shall he begin and sustain his charity?

“That’s why I’m working very hard to win another gold at the World Para Athletics Championship in Doha, in November such that I get the chance to talk to the President (Museveni) and convince him to support my project.”