NAIROBI, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Calls for immediate overhaul of the training and development structures in Kenya sports were echoed on Tuesday when the Paralympics team jetted back from London games.

Kenya entered a small contingent of 14 participants and ended up in position 40 with two gold, two silver and two bronze medals. This was lukewarm show compared with Beijing Paralympics four years ago where Kenyan athletes raked in 9 medals - 5 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze - to finish 27th in the medal table.

In London, China finished on top with 231 medals of which 95 were gold ahead of Russia (102) and host Britain (120).

Like in the summer Olympic Games, where Kenya won its medals from track competitions, the Paralympics saw Abraham Tarbei clinch gold in 1,500 (T46) and Samuel Muchai in 1,500m (T11).

Sports Minister Paul Otuoma led a government delegation to welcome the team and promised they will be rewarded, just like their colleagues who competed in the Olympics.

"We are proud of your performance. It is not every country that won a medal in London, you have shown your fighting spirits and we recognize it," said Otuoma Tuesday in Nairobi.

Jairus Mugalo, head of Kenyan Paralympics Committee, called for a change in government policy regarding Paralympics sports.

"In London we had a chance to meet with government representatives and were impressed by efforts they have done to promote sports in the country. It was therefore not a shock that they won so many medals in both Olympic and Paralympics games," he said.

Mugalo wants the government to be involved in the preparation, development and exposure of the athletes prior to the 2016 games. He also asked for more funding to help them attain their goals.

"We only had 14 athletes in London and they were all from one discipline. It greatly reduces our chances of getting medals in major events," he said.

Marathon runner Henry Wanyoike, who was one of the country's medal hopeful, was let down by injury.

However Mugalo said it was time to draft in younger athletes to take over from the aging generation. Wanyoike did not arrive with the rest of the team and is expected back home on Sept. 14.

Team captain Henry Kirwa defended their performance in London and pointed out that competition was extremely stiff.

"We still did well against team's that had the resources and preparations that we can only dream of," he said.

Kirwa won a silver medal in the 1,500m and bronze in the 5,000m.

"Some of the athletes we competed against can easily challenge able bodied sportsmen and women and as the team captain, I believe we did very well," he said. Enditem

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