This archive report was first published on 9 December 2019.
Kenya's martial arts team, Jasiri, has successfully defended its title at the Mombasa Open Tong-IL Moo-Do Martial Arts Championship, held at the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa on Sunday.
The team secured a total of 113 medals, with 31 gold, 36 silver, and 46 bronze medals, solidifying its position as the champion since the inaugural edition in 2013.
Philippines came in second with six gold, five silver, and four bronze medals, while Thailand finished third with four gold, three silver, and two bronze medals.
Kenyan athlete Lorna Abiero, a gold medallist at the World Tong-IL Moo-Do Championship in Chungju, South Korea in August, added two silver medals to her collection in individual Special Forms and individual Tong-IL Moo-Do Forms events.
Abiero expressed her satisfaction with her performance, stating, "I'm happy I managed to win four medals. I'll continue to train hard because I want to do better in future championships," she said.
Kenya's Sports Cabinet Secretary, Amina Mohamed, congratulated the national team on its victory, promising government support to ensure the event is held annually.
"Our sportsmen and women are our ambassadors as they continue to raise the national flag high at international tournaments," Mohamed said. "We want to exploit our young talents to ensure they also benefit economically. The government is committed to sponsoring all the federation events in future," she added.
Kenya Tong–IL Moo-Do Federation chairman Clarence Mwakio thanked the government for its support, stating, "We'll continue to cooperate with the government for our players to produce good results. This year's championship was tough but Kenya retained its title," said Mwakio.
World Tong-IL Moo-Do Federation Vice President Takamitsu Hoshiko expressed his optimism about the sport's growth in Africa, praising Kenya's commitment to supporting the sport.
