In a historic achievement, Kenya’s Tong Il Moo Do team, led by Jasiri, secured an unprecedented 11th title at the Mombasa International Open Martial Arts Championship held at the Aga Khan Academy.
Jasiri, a formidable force in the sport, successfully defended the overall title for the eleventh consecutive year, dominating the three-day event and clinching an impressive total of 191 medals.
The Kenyan team asserted its supremacy with an outstanding performance, collecting 46 gold, 52 silver, and 93 bronze medals, surpassing competitors from 12 countries. Last year’s event, also hosted at the Aga Khan Academy, saw Kenya secure a total of 185 medals, consisting of 46 gold, 54 silver, and 18 bronze.
Zambia claimed the second position, showcasing their growing strength in African martial arts, while the world-renowned Philippines secured the third spot in the eleventh edition of the championship.
Kenya Tong-IL Moo-do president Clarence Mwakio attributed their stellar performance to meticulous preparations and crucial support from the national government. Mwakio expressed gratitude for the backing from the Ministry of Sports, emphasizing that the team’s two-week training camp and a well-prepared squad were instrumental in their successful title defense.
Delighted with the victory, Mwakio, who also serves as the African president for the discipline, revealed their ambitious plans to expand the sport across the entire continent starting next year. The focus includes pushing for inclusion in the African Games, with 14 countries already members and efforts underway to attract more nations through government support.
The Deputy Sports Commissioner at the Ministry of Sports pledged ongoing support, stating plans to collaborate with the Tong-IL Moo-do federation to popularize the sport nationwide.
“We have supported the game, and we are also ready to partner with the officials to expand it even more in the country and the continent at large. So far, it’s only 14 counties which have embraced this discipline,” remarked the Deputy Sports Commissioner.
Notable participating countries in the eleventh edition included Iran, India, Paraguay, Nigeria, Japan, DRC, Brazil, South Korea, Thailand, and Ivory Coast.
