Kenya defy odds to retain Mombasa Open Tong Il Moo Do tourney title

Erika De Sequera[in red] from India fights with Kenyan, Stella Rehema [in blue] during 10th Mombasa open Tong--IL Moo--Do international martial Arts championship 2022 held at Aga Khan multipurpose hall in Mombasa.19th December 2022.[Omondi Onyango,Standard]

Kenya's national team, Jasiri, reaffirmed their dominance after they bagged unassailable medals as Mombasa Open International Tong Il Moo Do competition entered into its final day yesterday at the Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa.

The Kenyan team under coach Ibrahim Chumba increased its medal tally to 103 after taking a commanding lead since the start of the tournament last Sunday.

The home boys and girls had 28 gold, 31 silver and 44 bronze in total ready to surpass last year's total of 128 medals that included 39 gold, 33 silver and 56 bronze. Last year's competition attracted 16 countries while 11 teams battled for top honors at this year's event.

Kenya's perennial rivals and world champions Philippine were trailing in the second position with 19 medals that had five gold, one silver and 13 bronze.

In the third position were India with four gold, three silver, and bronze for a total of eight medals.

Zambia who has been a regular participant in the competition, which marked its 10th anniversary were fourth with 13 medals that included three gold, two silver and eight bronze. Other gold winners were Korea (four) while Japan, Paraguay, the United States of America and Brazil had a single gold medal each.

Yesterday's competition saw players compete in individual sparring, team special techniques and team sparring.

Kenya Tong IL-Moo Do Federation president Clarence Mwakio said despite the financial constraints they encountered, the players produced great performance.

He urged the Ministry of Sports to live up to their promise and cater all the bills accrued in the tournament.

'We staged the 2022 competition under mountains of financial hiccups. We presented our budget last year and the government pledged to extend its financial support as it has been doing since 2013," said Mwakio who is also the president of the Africa Tong Il Moo Do Federation.

"Of course we expected stiff competition from our opponents, but I'm pleased with the team's performance. They did it under very difficult circumstances. We are still hoping the government will come through for the national team and help us cater for the hefty bills we have incurred in organising this event."

In the individual performances, Kenya won medals in all the boys and girls' division one to four individual categories. In boys' division one, Rodney Sumba clinched gold, Joseph Clement taking silver with Faris Luvembe and Leon Trevor clinching bronze medals.

In division two, Emmanuel Wafula, Mark Bakari and Preston Mwakio Ingalwa won gold, silver and bronze medals respectively. Division three winners were Clinton Gideon (gold), Giovani Sifuna (silver) and Suleiman Hussein (bronze).

In division four, Jotham Banda took gold, Andre Baraka winning silver and Yusuf Ali clinching bronze medal.

In girls' division one, the winners were Hope Jepkoech (gold), Kyla Nyambura (silver) and Berryl Sunday (bronze). In division two, Precious Mayar (gold), Hope Christine (silver), Nina Inan and Catherine Mayar (bronze) bagged the medals.

In division three, the winners were Sachiko Isichi (gold), Aiswa Swaleh (silver), Mwanashabani Bakari and Hafswa Akello (bronze). [email protected]