South African canoeists qualify for Beijing in Kenya

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Two South Africans have qualified for the Beijing Olympics at the Africa canoe-kayak championships in Masinga Dam, Kenya, which went ahead despite instability in the east African nation.

Some of Kenya's top athletes said last week they feared for their lives after weeks of unrest around the country following the disputed re-election of President Mwai Kibaki last month.

Some 750 people have been killed in ethnic violence and clashes with the security forces since the December 27 polls, including Lucas Sang, a 4x400m relay finalist at the 1988 Olympics, and marathon runner Wesley Ngetich.

Cameroon and Uganda boycotted the canoe-kayak championships because of the unrest, fearing for the safety of their competitors.

Nevertheless, the event went ahead and South Africa's Fouche van Tonder and Calvin Makoto qualified for the August 8-24 Olympics after winning their events on Saturday.

Fouche, 20, won the K-1 1,000m race after clocking 4:14.16. Two minutes later, Makoto won the C-1 1,000m race.

(Reporting by Jack Oyoo; Editing by Nick Tattersall)