World Unified Martial Arts: Musungu wins gold after beating Thailand's Netsoongnern Pissanusak

Team kenya

Kenya bagged a gold medal, two silver and five bronze as the World Unified Martial Arts Mastership (or simply Tong-Il Moo Do) ended here in Cheongju, South Korea.

The Kenyan martial artists arrived here with the team title only to be upstaged by the Philippines (5 gold) and Iran (3 gold), but not without a good account of themselves in a game often dominated by the East Asians.

Edwin Musungu outwitted Thailand’s Netsoongnern Pisanusak in a thrilling contest to give Kenya her only gold medal.

Dickson Nyagah braved ferocious Iranian ... to hold out for silver in 8-2 points loss in 82kg category.

“I am proud of the silver given. I was up against an MM1 fighter,” Nyagah said after a bruising encounter that left the Iranian gasping for breath for most of the second half.

“Our opponents are very good at ground techniques which calls for us now to change tack. So far, we are good at aerial attack which we need to maintain and basically work on the weak areas,” Nyagah said.

The other silver came from Ibrahim Chumba in Individual Forms, which emphasises on basics such as balance, movement and accuracy in martial arts.

Bronze medals came via Ali Nassor on day one of the championship and Peter Njuguna, Jabiri Mzee, Elvis Malipe and Newton Sady.

Kenya Tong-Il Moo Do Federation chairman Clarence Mwakio praised the spirit of the players saying local players have made a lot strides in the game.

“We leave the games satisfied that we are on the right track. The losses we suffered were too close which means we have a chance to do better next time,” Mwakio said.

He added: “We need closer working relations with such countries as Iran, Japan and the Philippines and above all the Kenyan government which has so far been very supportive.”

World Tong-Il Moo Do Vice- President Hoshiko Takamitsu praised the team saying it was an honour to participate.

“Kenya have been improving in every tournament and we are grateful for the support of Kenyan government,” he said.

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