Sprinter Sasha Zhoya led his French teammates to a morning training session at the Nyayo National Stadium ahead of the World Under 20 Championships that begins on Wednesday at the Kasarani Stadium.

Zhoya was among a strong French team that arrived in Nairobi on Friday night.

The team consists of 26 athletes and 10 officials, half the number that competed during last month’s European Junior Championships held in Tallinn, Estonia.

Zhoya who was crowned European champion in 110m hurdles, expressed his enthusiasm upon touching down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

The 19-year-old says the global Junior Championships will officially launch his bid to reign at the 2024 Olympic Games to be held in his home City, Paris.

“I was happy to finally win my first international medal last month,” Zhoya told People Sport.

“I cannot wait for the World U20 Championships to begin. As you can see we have a strong team in almost all the events,” said the athlete who won the European final in a championship record of 13.05, just 0.03 shy of his PB he set earlier this month.

Zhoya, describes himself as an all-round talent who has produced incredible marks in the pole vault, 200m and decathlon in recent years, and who has fallen in love with 110m hurdles. 

“Watch out for French team in Nairobi, with us we have like five gold medallists across different disciplines including hurdles and  hugh jump.

Since we are hosting the next  Olympics Games in three years time, the importance of this Championships cannot be more emphasised,” he added 

Paul vaulter Emma Brentel who was second during the European Championships is eyeing a French record at the global Championships.

With a personal best of 4.20m, the 19-year-old feels ready to compete next week.

“I am expecting stiff competition from Canada, Israel and a fellow French lady.

But I will take that positively since my target is to hit the mark of 4.40m which is a French record,” said Brentel as the team was checked in to the Sarofa PanAfric hotel Nairobi late Friday night.

Argentina (8), Algeria (2), Canada (23) Dominican Republic (3), Czech Republic (48), and Botswana (18) are some of the other teams that arrived yesterday night.