578 Participants Ready for Tong-IL Moo-DO Championship As Team Jasiri Intensifies Training
By Harrison Kivisu and Mwakwaya Raymond
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
The World Tong-IL Moo-Do Federation has granted Kenya the hosting rights of the 12th Edition of the Mombasa Open Tong-IL Moo-Do International Martial Arts Championship 2024 which has already attracted 574 players in the event’s history.
Kenya Tong-IL Moo Do federation on November 25, 2024 confirmed that there were 324 foreign participants from 35 countries globally in the event slated for next month in Mombasa.
Kenya will be represented by 250 participants with team Jasiri having 120 players.
Despite the cancellation of the event in August 2024 due to financial constraints this year, the World Tong IL- Moo- Do Federation president Grand Master Takamitsu Hoshiko has shown faith and support to ensure the December 11-24, 2024 event takes place.
Grandmaster Hoshiko has been supportive and his efforts to marshal the countries to the event demonstrate that the world body recognizes the country’s strides to popularize Tong-IL Moo-Do in Kenya and Africa.
Kenya’s Tong IL- Moo- Do chairman Clarence Mwakio said the event was expected to have the highest number of participants since inception indicating credibility of the championship was held in high esteem by the world body.
“Kenya is a powerhouse in Tong-IL Moo-Do and hosting such a world class event elevates the country’s status,” said Mwakio.
He said the president of the world federation Hoshiko had ensured that the 12th Edition of the championship would have more teams as part of the events in the world federation calendar.
The chairman appealed to President Dr William Samoei Ruto and the youth affairs, creative economy and sports cabinet secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to intervene in sponsorship and facilitate the national team Jasiri with the hosting budget funds.
“The championship is among the few international events that are hosted in Kenya this year and it’s of significance for the government to boost the morale of the players.
For the last four months, team Jasiri has continued with trainings in readiness for the event that they have won for the last 11 years of the championship.” he added.
Mwakio said he was optimistic that within the next two weeks before the championship the CS sports would save the event from failing to start.
“We understand that saboteurs are working behind the clock to sabotage the championship from happening so that it collapses but we have faith it will take place.”
In this year’s championship, new teams are participating among them Sao Tome and Principe, Vanuatu, Lithuania, Uganda among others.
