Martial arts: Kenya bags 20 medals as Mombasa Open event kicks off

Team Mombasa display self deffence katas as the Mombasa Open Tong-Il Mood-do martial arts championship at the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa County, December 07, 2019. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

Kenya’s team started its title defence on a sound note after bagging 20 medals as the Mombasa Open Tong Il Moo Do international championships started at Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa yesterday.

The team, better known as Jasiri, bagged five gold, eight silver and seven bronze on the first day of the event that has attracted 14 countries.

Thailand have two gold, one silver and bronze medals while South Korea and Democratic Republic of Congo have a gold each. Ruth Rono gave Kenya two gold medals after she won in women individual colour belt with 7.5 points with Suji Rangala of Kenya and Thailand’s Phinonwan Thongsakulsiri hitting 6.7 and 6.6 points for silver and bronze.

Ruth teamed up with other Kenyan women to win gold in team forms with Thailand settling for the second position.

Anthony Napatu gave Kenya another gold in men blue stripe category with Sambay Roger of Congo Brazaville and Nepal’s Jay Tamang clinching silver and bronze.

Kenya’s fourth gold came through Twalib Rashid’s led men beginners’ team category that saw the hosts grab silver and bronze through Alvi’s and Hakwan teams.

The fifth gold for Kenya was won by Wycliffe Wabukala in men’s form with 5.9 points. Kenya went ahead to win silver and bronze through Fredrick Omollo and Young Ominde with 5.4 and 5.3 points.

Thailand won gold in white belt men category through Nakul Chaloemphon with 7.8 points while Kenya's Wanga Hassan and Twalib Rashid won silver and bronze respectively. Thailand got the second second gold in women colour belt category.