Kenya’s tennis sensation Angela Okutoyi has admitted that missing the Olympic Games in Paris, when she believed she had done enough to qualify was painful. She however says she will use that heartbreak as fuel to driver her energy towards the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

Okutoyi won the Africa Games title last year, and thought it was enough to hand her a ticket to Paris. However, the International Tenis Federation 9ITF) said only a top 400 ranking was enough for qualification.

She put in some effort to compete in more tournaments in the short qualification window after learning of the rule, but was never lucky. She would have become the first ever Kenyan woman to play tennis at the Olympics.

Speaking to Telecomasia.net, Okutoyi has opened up on the hurt of missing out on Paris.

“Missing the Olympics really hit me a lot. After winning the Africa Games, I knew that I had qualified but with the rules, there was nothing I could do. I think if we had known the rule change early enough I would have strived to play more tournaments,” Okutoyi told Telecomasia.

She believes with three years before LA, she has enough time to earn a historic qualification.

“I have all my eyes on the LA Games and I know I can qualify and attain that dream. I have more time now to play more tournaments and improve my ranking and I am so much confident that this time round I will be on Team Kenya for the Olympics,” Okutoyi said in the interbiew with Telecomasia.