Africa-Press – Kenya. The national team coach Ibrahim Chumba has expressed confidence about Jasiri’s chance to retain the Mombasa Tong IL Moo-Do Open title at the Aga Khan Gymnasium in Mombasa.
“I am impressed with our performances, especially the youth team. I am confident that we shall retain the title,” said Chumba.
“This is because we have had good preparations this year with blessings from the federation and the government.”
Kenya are fielding a youthful team at this year’s championships as they seek exposure with Chumba acknowledging improvements in judo and taekwondo techniques.
“These were our biggest challenges but we have benefitted a lot from the camps and clinics we have had,” Chumba said.
As of Monday evening, Kenya were leading the standings with 24 medals — eight gold, eight silver and 11 bronze.
India were second with one gold medal followed by Iran (one silver) and Zambia in fourth (one bronze). Jasiri’s Lizzanne Owino led Kenya to a 1-2-3 podium finish in the individual forms female category.
She targets to match her performance from last year, where she won two gold medals and a silver.
“I am happy to have won the gold and I look forward to winning my second gold in the sparing category. My target this year was to win two gold medals,” said Owino.
The mother of two has been participating in the championships since 2021, where she bagged a gold and a silver. Pauline Zawadi also struck a gold medal in the individual forms female category ‘A’. Chitalu Natalie from Zambia took the slver medal as another Kenyan, Mildred Akinyi grabbed the bronze.
Christine Ahono led a Kenyan clean sweep in the junior girls’ sparing category ‘E’. Nina Inan was second as Samantha Nelima, Mwakauzwa Hamad and Nicole Imily tied for third. Flavin Kemunto clinched gold in the junior girls’ category ‘D’ followed by Iranian Kosar Mohamadloo and another Kenyan Kyla Nyambura.
Erica De Sequeira of India won gold in the junior girls’ category ‘C’ followed by Kenya’s Eunice Mwende. The Kenyan duo of Mchumba Sachiko and Precious Mghoi tied for third. In the junior girls’ category ‘B’, homegirl Debra Osena took the title followed by Zulpha Kadzo and Blessing Atieno.
In category ‘A’, Mwanasheban Bakari led a Kenyan sweep alongside Etana Kamene (silver) and joint-bronze medallists Bessy Benarzir and Swaleh Aisha.
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