Martial Arts: Jasiri bags 12 medals on first day of Mombasa Open Tong IL- Moo Do international championships

Teams get ready for the 2020 Mombasa Open Tong-Il Moo-Do International Martial Arts Championship at the Aga Khan School on Sunday, December 20, 2020. [Omondi Onyango, Standard]

The National Unified Martial Arts team, Jasiri, bagged 12 medals on the first day of the Mombasa Open Tong IL- Moo Do international championships at the Aga Khan School, Mombasa.

The Unified Martial Arts, also called Tong IL- Moo-Do, a tournament that has brought together 10 countries saw Kenya bag 4 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze medals in the Forms category.

In the junior girls, competing in forms category, Kyla Nyambura clinched gold, Catherine Mayaz (Silver) and Precious Mayar (Bronze).

In the same category for boys, Jotham Banda won gold, Harun Gatogo (silver) and Samuel Njaga (bronze).

Under 18 girls, Hope Christine bagged gold, silver went to Nina Inan and the bronze went to Lavender Mmbone.

In the male white belt, over 18 years; Athman Bakari won gold, Twalib  Kashid (silver)  and Wycliffe Wabukala (Bronze).

The countries participating in the two-day championship include Brazil, Thailand, South Korea, Cote d’Ivoire, The Philippines, Congo Brazzaville, Nigeria, Iran, Turkey and hosts Kenya.

June Su Juma performs during the 2020 Mombasa Open Tong-Il Moo-Do International Martial Arts Championships. [Omondi Onyango, Standard]

The event was officially opened by the World Tong Il Moo Do Federation President Grandmaster Takamitsu Hoshiko, who lauded Kenyan government for allowing the event to take place. Former Sports Commissioner Gordon Oluoch and African Tong Il Moo Do Federation President Clarence Mwakio were also present.

“On behalf of the World Tong Il Moo Do Federation, I would like to commend the Kenyan government for its support towards the promotion of the sport in the country. We have seen tremendous improvement of Tong-Il Moo-Do in Kenya, which cannot go unnoticed,” said Hoshiko who has been the Vice President of the federation before he took over this year.

“Many sports were cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic, but we are happy the Mombasa Open International championships is here with us. The participation of several nations clearly shows that players were looking forward to the resumption of sports globally,” said the world President.

Countries participating in the two-day championship include Brazil, Thailand, South Korea, Cote d’Ivoire, The Philippines, Congo Brazzaville, Nigeria, Iran, Turkey and hosts Kenya. [Omondi Onyango, Standard]

Hoshiko said he was impressed with the covid-19 health measures put in place by the organisers of the Mombasa Open event. “The World Health Organization, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage COVID-19 protocols have been observed to the letter,” said the President.

Mwakio said his federation was privileged to host the world event after many championships were locally cancelled due to the outbreak of the pandemic.

Mwakio lauded the government for its effort to promote Tong-IL-Moo-Do and singled out the Ministry of Sports Culture and the Arts for playing a pivotal role to ensure the event is hosted in Mombasa despite uncertainties.