Kenya on the brink of retaining Tong-IL Moo-Do title

Mombasa Open Tong-IL Moo-Do Martial Arts Championships

Kenya's Dennis Onyango kicks Philippines' Salve Jonel during Day Two of the 2020 Mombasa Open Tong-IL Moo-Do Martial Arts Championship at Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa on December 21, 2020.

Photo credit: Kevin Odit | Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

  • Kenya's national team, nicknamed Jasiri, took the lead on both days of the event that started on Sunday at Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa.
  • After the conclusion of individual form and sparring categories, Kenya had 52 medals that included 21 gold, 19 silver and 12 bronze.

Kenya was all set to retain their Mombasa Open Tong-IL Moo-Do International Martial Arts Championship crown for the eighth year in a row after a splendid performance in day two of the event.

Kenya's national team, nicknamed Jasiri, took the lead on both days of the event that started on Sunday at Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa.

After the conclusion of individual form and sparring categories, Kenya had 52 medals that included 21 gold, 19 silver and 12 bronze.

Lorna Abiero who won two gold medals during last year’s World Martial Arts Masterships in Chung Ju, South Korea, got her first gold medal on Sunday after winning the individual female green belt form event.

Abiero won the event after scoring 8.64 points with her only opponent Jacquiline Muli securing the silver medal when she scored 7.58 points.

Won two gold medals

Hope Christine became the first Kenyan player to win two gold medals at this year's event when she took the girls Under-18 forms title with 8.76 points prior. She then won the girls' 40-47kgs sparring category after beating her only opponent Hafsa Akello.

The girls' U-18 forms silver medal winner was Nina Inan (8.7) as Lavender Mmbone settled for bronze after garnering 7.44 points. Keyla Nyambura won gold in the girls' 20-35kgs with Precious Mayar taking silver.

In the boys' U-18 individual forms, the gold medal winner was Abubakar Mwaisangu (7.98), followed by Evans Bosire (7.86) with Suleiman Salim (7.78) settling for bronze.

In the boys' junior forms event, Eric Munene won gold with 7.56 points, while Najib Salim (8.08 points) and Kahindi Victor (6.32 points) took silver and bronze respectively.

Harun Gathongo took gold in the boys' sparring 20-29kgs event, with Jonathan Banda taking silver medal. The 56-60kgs event was won by Jung Soo Ouda with Kahindi Victor taking silver.

Kenya emerged the overall winners during last year’s championships with 113 medals - 31 gold, 36 silver and 46 bronze medals.

Other selected sparring results:

Boys- 30-35 kgs: Mathew Kongani (gold); Preston Cimiwaks (silver); Samuel Nyaga (bronze)

36-40kgs: Hamadi Swaleh (gold); Josiah Lugo (silver); Mark Wafula (bronze). 41-55: Leon Trevor (gold); Francis Luvembe (silver)

Girls- 48-52kgs: Eun-Jin Kariuki (gold); Nina Inan (silver); Lavendra Mmbone (bronze)

Over 55kgs: Zawadi Susan (gold).