The Kenya Taekwondo Federation has selected the Kenya team that will represent the country in the forthcoming 2023 World Taekwondo Championship set for May 29th to June 6th this year in Baku, Azerbaijan.
A total of 37 players, comprising 14 ladies and 23 men, were selected during the just-concluded trials for the championships that were held over the weekend at Kenyatta University.
The Head Coach of Taekwondo at Kibabii University, Mr. Eliakim Otieno, said participants who competed in the trials competition included the Kenya Police, Regional Club, Shofco Mathare, Kenyatta University, Masai Taekwondo Club, Chalbi, Kibabii University, Black Kings, Waithaka Club, and the Integrity Center for the Youth.
Speaking to KNA, Otieno said the competition brought together some of the most skilled practitioners of taekwondo to compete in various categories.
The categories included fin weight, fly weight, bantam weight, feather weight, light weight, welter weight, middle weight, and heavy weight.
“We are happy that the audience was awed as players executed high-flying kicks, devastating strikes, and intricate forms that demonstrated their mastery of Taekwondo,” he stated.
While congratulating the selected team, Coach Otieno said he was delighted that the country has players who will participate in the championships and told the players to wait for communication on when they will report to the camp for training.
The Chairman of Nairobi Taekwondo, Master Benson Voiya, warned the players against using drugs that can affect their performance, noting that the law has been amended so that all players will be required to undertake a mandatory test for doping before participating in any tournament.
Voiya also urged the players to train hard, adding that many participants worldwide were preparing for the upcoming tournaments, including the Olympics that will be held in Paris in 2024.
“Work hard in the local tournaments before traveling for international tournaments,” he encouraged.
Men’s players selected for the fin weight category are George Williams and Samuel Onyango, both from Regional Club, and Haji Ombayo from Black Kings; those in the fly weight category are Wycliffe Okoth from Regional Club, Daniel Odhiambo, and Gabriel Otieno, both from Shofco Mathare.
Selected in the Bantam weight are Wizeck Opiyo and Collins Munene from Kenya Police and David Memusi from Regional Club.
Those representing the country in Feather weight are Kevin Kinyingiwa and Dennis Omasava, both from the Regional Club, and Samuel Njau from Waithaka. Light weight are Evans Oduor from Kenya Police, Pascal John from Waithaka Club, and John Francis from Kibabii University.
Welterweights are Leonard Mukanda and Frank Odhiambo from Kibabii University, and Collin Odhiambo from Shofco Mathare. Middleweights are innocent Wafula from Black Kings, Newton Maliro from Kenya Defence Forces, and Elijah Kimani from Regional Club, while heavyweights are Moses Kibara from Black Kings and Billy Otieno from Kibabii University.
In the ladies fin weight category are Everlyne Atieno and Ednar Sichangi, both from Kenya Police, and Cynthia Wekesa from Kibabii University. The fly weight was reserved, while those selected in the Bantam weight were Ann Omolo from Chalbi Club, Teresia Ochieng from Kenyatta University, and Light weight was Mildred Akinyi from Chalbi and Linda Kimutai from Kibabii University.
Those in Feather weight are Dock Stacey from Integrity Centre for Youth and Coco Hawi from Kenyatta University, whereas those in Welter weight are Pauline Zawadi from Chalbi and Sophie Clay from Integrity Centre for Youth. Jully Musangi from Kibabii University, who was contesting for middleweight, was given a walkover for lack of an opponent.
Faith Ogallo from Kenya Police and Rebeccah Ominde from the Regional Club were selected for the heavyweight category.
By Rebeccah Ominde
