Kenya’s men’s and women’s roll ball teams delivered strong performances at the 7th Roll Ball World Cup in Dubai, reaching the latter stages of the tournament and underlining the country’s status as a global force in the sport.
Men’s Team Dominance
The men’s team cruised through the group stage with emphatic wins over Poland (18–0), Pakistan (18–4) and Sri Lanka (10–0), before dispatching Saudi Arabia 9–2 in the quarter-finals. The results reflected a blend of attacking efficiency and defensive discipline.
Head coach Martin Abunde credited the team’s preparation while cautioning against complacency as the tournament progressed.
“The wins reflect the level of preparation we’ve had, but the competition gets tougher with every match. We must stay focused and disciplined,” he said.
Women’s Team Resilience
The women’s team also produced commanding performances, opening with a 16–0 victory over Argentina before mounting a comeback against Egypt, overturning a 2–0 deficit to secure a 4–2 quarter-final win.
Assistant captain Judy Cheptoo highlighted teamwork and tempo as key to their success.
“We moved the ball well, played for each other, and maintained a high pace throughout,” she said.
Narrow Final Losses
Both teams fell just short of defending their titles in closely contested finals. The Indian men edged Kenya 11–10, while the Indian women secured a 3–2 victory, denying Kenya a historic hat-trick of World Cup titles.
The win marked India’s third women’s World Cup title, drawing level with Kenya. India previously lifted the women’s trophy in 2013 and 2017, after finishing third in 2023 in Pune. The Indian men also completed a strong comeback campaign to claim the championship.
About Roll Ball
Roll ball is played on roller skates and blends elements of basketball, handball, and throwball. Each team fields six players, with an additional six substitutes.
The Roll Ball World Cup is organised by the International Roll Ball Federation (IRBF).
