This archive report was first published on 31 August 2019.
On August 31, 2019, Kenya's martial arts team, Team Jasiri, returned home with a sense of pride and accomplishment after participating in the Cheongju World Martial Arts Mastership Tournament in South Korea.
The team's performance was a significant improvement from their 2016 debut, with a total of nine medals won, including two gold, two silver, and five bronze.
Among the medal winners were Rose Wacheke and the Forms team, who secured two silver medals in the women's 65kg sparring final and men's open bon basic (team forms) category, respectively.
Evans Oduory and Elvis Malipe also contributed to the team's success, each winning a bronze medal in the men's 70kg sparring and men's open sparring categories, respectively.
Kenya's martial arts team faced stiff competition from top-notch players from around the world, including the Philippines and Iran, but their determination and skill ultimately paid off.
Team Jasiri's performance was hailed by their federation President, Clarence Mwakio, who praised their exemplary performance in a tough competition.
However, the team's Secretary, Hillary Wahanda, expressed concerns over biased officiating, claiming that the jury paused matches involving Kenya and the Philippines due to persistent interventions by the latter's coaches.
