It's raining gold medals for national team Jasiri

Kenya posts yet another commendable show in the Mombasa Open international Tong IL-Moo Do event.

Team Kenya produced sterling show to retain the overall title for the eighth year running at this year’s Mombasa Open International Tong IL- Moo Do championships at Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa.

The good show put Kenya on top of things, way ahead of their perennial rivals Philippines, who defeated them at last year’s World Martial Arts Masters Championships in South Korea.

Other countries at the event were Japan, Ivory Coast, Turkey, Iran, Thailand, Brazil, South Korea and Congo Brazaville.

By time of going to press, Kenya’s national team, also know as Jasiri, had amassed 67 medals with the hope of bagging more medals by the end of the championships, which was sponsored by the Ministry of Sports.

Kenyan team, which is captained by Collins Ndunda won 27 gold, 24 silver and 16 bronze medals at the end of the individual events.

Kenya’s best performance was last year when they won a total of 113 medals including 31 gold, 36 silver and 46 bronze.

Ndunda said he was optimistic of surpassing last year’s medal haul.

“We are looking forward to a better performance compared to last year and finish with more medals than we did then,” said Ndunda.

Reigning World Martial Arts Masters Championships winner Nairobi’s Lona Abiero proved that she’s still in top form after she easily won the green belt female individual Forms.

“It was sweet victory," said Abiero after the win. Mombasa-based Jacqueline Muli settled for silver.

Hope Christine gave Team Kenya two gold medals after she triumphed in girls' under-18 forms with 8.76 points and in the 40-47kg Sparring categories.

Another girl, Kyla Nyambura, gave Team Kenya two more gold medals in junior Forms with 8.6 points and girls 20-35kgn Sparring divisions.

In girls' 48-52kg Sparring category, Eun Kariuki won gold with Kenyans Nina Inan and Lavender Mmbone winning silver and bronze medals respectively. Kariuki later bagged gold in girls' under-18 Yellow Belt Forms with 7.64.

In boys' Sparring category, Harun Gathogo won gold in the 20-29kg division after winning silver in individual Forms with 8.50 points. Jothan Banda won gold after registering 8.98 points while Samuel Njaga grabbed bronze for Team Kenya after posting 8.42 points.

In boys' 56-60kg Sparring category, Jungsoo Ouda and Victor Kahindi bagged gold and silver respectively.