Africa Games champion Angela Okutoyi is upbeat about her chances of qualifying for the Paris Olympics despite a setback in her latest tournament.
The three-time Kenya Open champion failed to shine at the W35 Boca Raton tournament in Florida last weekend.
She takes a week's break before returning to action at the W35 tournament in Bethany, Delaware, next week.
"I'm resting for the next one week. It's been quite tough but I am optimistic about my chances. The one-week break will help me recharge my batteries and resume the push for Paris qualification,” observed Okutoyi.
"The tournaments in Charlotte and Florida have revealed some areas where I must improve. Mentally, I have to get the grit to ensure I go past the quarters and look at playing in the finals of the upcoming tournaments to boost my chances of playing in the Olympics,” said Okutoyi, who bagged the African Games crown in Ghana in March by beating Egyptian Abdelaziz Lamiz 6-4 6-2.
She collected eight points following the defeat in Florida and still needs 65 points with time running out for her to be in the top 400 by June 10 to be eligible for the Olympics.
After the event in Delaware, she will play in the W15 event in San Diego from May 27 to June 2.
The Auburn-based university student became the first Kenyan to win gold in the category since the 1978 Games in Algiers, Algeria, when Jane Davies defeated Susan Wakhungu in an all-Kenyan final.
