KENYA RETAINS MARTIAL ARTS TITLE: Tong Il Moo Do championship team rakes in 27 gold medals

TONG IL MOO DO Tong-Il-Moo Do head trainer Mohammed Razar (left) from Japan takes through Ali Nasoro (front) from Mombasa on some deffence techniques during a training session at the Best Western Hotel in Mombasa County yesterday (Friday) ahead of today's (Saturday) International Tong-il- Moo Do Tournament August 26th, 2016. At least twelve countries will participate in the two day event. [PHOTOBY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

Team Kenya successfully retained the overall title for the fourth year in a row as the Mombasa Open International Tong Il Moo Do championships ended in Mombasa.

The two-day event at Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa saw Team Kenya end with 87 medals to their credit.

The Kenyan players, who had been in residential camp in Kilifi County for two weeks prior to the event, bagged 27 gold, 37 silver and 23 bronze medals.

It was sweet victory for the 21-man Team Kenya players as they had indicated before the tournament that Philippines and Iran posed a major threat.

Philippines settled for the second slot with eight medals while Iran finished third with  three gold medals. Ethiopia were fourth with two gold and one bronze.

America and Nigeria left the country empty-handed after failing to win a single medal.

Philippines Tong Il Moo Do President Bernardino Villagante said he was impressed with the organisation of the tournament.

“We are happy the Kenyan government has supported this event and this is the way to go for the sport to grow from the grassroots,” said Villagante.

He said the players drawn from the host Kenya, Netherlands, Cote d Ivoire, Iran, Iraq, Philippines, USA and Ethipoia had shown a competitive spirit.

On his part, World Tong Il Moo Do Federation Vice President Takamistu Hoshiko said the sport was growing steadily across the world.

“As a world body, we are happy the sport is gaining momentum globally,” said Hoshiko in his closing remarks.

Elsewhere, Team Kenya of 17 players departs the country tomorrow for an invitational tournament in South Korea, which starts on Thursday with over 20 teams participating.

Kenya Tong Il Moo Do Federation Chairman Clarence Mwakio said the team used the Mombasa Open event to gauge their preparations ahead of the Korea event.

Mwakio said Sports Kenya, among other sponsors gave the Mombasa event a big boost.

“We had a competitive tournament and we thank all our sponsors among them KK Security, Texas Alarms, Smart Look Media, Regional Logistics and Tourism department at the Mombasa County Government for the support towards the event.”