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Mombasa Open Tong Il Moo Do Championships moves to August from December

A Kenyan athlete (C) practices with two Indian athletes ahead of the 10th Mombasa Open Tong-IL Moo-Doo International Martial Arts Championship 2022, in Mombasa, Kenya, on December 15, 2022. (Photo: Patrick Meinhardt/AFP)

By Sports Reporter | Friday, December 29, 2023

Mwakio acknowledged that Kenya's home advantage played a significant role in their success, stressing the ability to field competitors in all categories.

In a strategic move, Kenya Tong Il Moo Do Federation President Clarence Mwakio has announced a significant shift in scheduling the Mombasa Open International championships. The tournament, usually held in December, will now occur in August, aiming to facilitate greater international participation.

Mwakio explained that the decision was prompted by the challenges faced by participants during the festive season, particularly in logistics and travel.

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"We had anticipated a substantial turnout for the 11th edition, but many countries struggled to secure flights to Mombasa due to the busy festive season. Hence, we've opted to move the competition to August when more countries are in their summer season, making travel arrangements smoother," Mwakio said, as reported by Capital Sports.

The recent edition of the competition saw the participation of 13 countries, including Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Thailand, India, Paraguay, Nigeria, Iran, the Philippines, and Cote d’Ivoire.

Mwakio acknowledged that Kenya's home advantage played a significant role in their success, stressing the ability to field competitors in all categories. He expressed optimism that, in the future, other nations would increase their participation, adding more competitiveness and excitement to the tournament.

"Kenya's performance in this competition has been exceptional due to our home advantage, allowing us to register competitors across all categories. I hope other countries will invest resources in the sport and turn out in larger numbers, making the competition more intense and captivating," remarked the president.