Kenya stands the risk of losing the hosting rights for the Mombasa Open Tong-IL Moo-Do International Martial Arts Championship over delayed disbursement of funds by the government.
The 12th edition of the championships that were slated to kick off on December 11, stare at an uncertainty after the ministry of sports failed to release sponsorship funds for the event and the national team ‘Jasiri’ on time.
According to the Kenya Tong-IL Moo-Do Federation president master Clarence Mwakio, cancellation of the event will be detrimental to the future of young martial artists whose future in the sport has been filled with uncertainty since 2022.
In a press statement to newsroom, Mwakio said that as a federation they had done all that is necessary to seek government support, but the funds have not yet been availed to continue with preparation for the event.
“The event which has successfully been hosted in Kenya for the last 11 years is facing a possible ban and total withdrawal in the World Tong-IL Moo-Do Federation major international championship calendar events for it to be awarded to another city amongst WTMF member states in waiting.
“However, I am optimistic that the CS for Youth, Creative Economy and Sports Kipchumba Murkomen and the PS Sports Mr. Tum will unlock the funding challenge that has faced the organisation of the international event,” Mwakio said in the statement.
The event was initially scheduled to take place in August, but had to be cancelled in the last minute after it was postponed by a week for failure by the government to release sponsorship funds event after teams from across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America already landing in Kenya.
Over 35 countries have confirmed attendance with about 500 martial arts practitioners confirming participation for the December event.
“Apart from withdrawal of the rights to host the Mombasa Open Tong-IL Moo-Do International Martial Arts Championship, Kenya shall definitely be slapped with a ban and hefty fines by the World Tong-IL Moo-Do Federation Governing Council should she fail to host this event in 2024,” Mwakio said.
Despite the uncertainty and financial challenges, teams have already arrived in the country with the national team Jasiri gearing up for the tournament ready to defend their honor and title.
Speaking in Mombasa, Jasisri Captain Elvis Malipe exuded confidence that they will defend their title adding that the team is in high spirit.
“The team has been preparing very well since August after the event was cancelled. Part of the team was in Nairobi, Mombasa and Bungoma all preparing for this tournament,” said Malipe.
He added, “We are looking forward to fly our flag high as we have done before in this tournament as we hope to motivate the next generation to join the sport.”
The sport has been on an upward trajectory in Africa with Kenya considered as a powerhouse for the sport having won the overall title for the Mombasa Open Tong-IL Moo-Do International Martial Arts Championship in all the previous 11 editions.
The Mombasa Open Tong-IL Moo-Do International Martial Arts Championship is the first martial arts program of its kind in Africa. It was founded in 2013 after KTMF with support from the Sports Ministry lobbied to have an international event in Kenya.
The tournament is a World Championship status event according to the World Tong-IL Moo-Do Federation events classification.
The tournament brings together participants from across the globe in Mombasa for twelve days to take part in training martial arts and learning character education, compete against martial artists from all styles, participate in voluntary service to our communities, tour Kenya’s beautiful historical sites and see our exotic wildlife through the safari experience.
The sport started in Kenya in 1987 and has a presence in 15 counties across seven regions (former provinces) in the country.
It has been gaining tract and continues to make inroads across the country as the federation projects to spread the sport in all the 47 counties.
