Abiero, Ali oozing with confidence as Mombasa Open Tong-IL-Moo-Do kicks off at Aga Khan Hall
By Harrison.Kivisu, December 17, 2021our-time gold medalist Lorna Abiero is hopeful to steer the Kenya National team to victory during this weekend’s ninth edition of the Mombasa Open Tong-IL-Moo-Do International Martial Arts championship at the Aga Khan Academy hall in Mombasa.
Abiero, 30, a Nairobi born martial artist, who trains at Smart Gyms in Nairobi, has been instrumental to Kenya’s eight times reign in the sport and she expect’s to continue with the same trend at this year’s edition.
Her biggest achievement led the national team also known as Jasiri, to win two gold medals during the 2019 World Martial Arts Masterships in Chung Ju, South Korea. Similary, Lorna had won gold medal in 2017 and 2018 in both sparring and special techniques at the annual Mombasa open championship.
In 2020, Lorna remained a thorn in the flesh to Thailand camp when she yet again grabbed a gold medal in team forms and individual techniques simultaneously. She told People sport that nothing stands before her to shine again.
“I am in good form, I have trained hard for this competition and am dating my opponents to bring it on, I will give my best to raise Kenyan flag high again. This year is going for nothing short of gold medals,” Lorna told People sport during a training session at the Travelers beach.
Also highly charged for the world event is Salma Ali 23, a Mombasa born gold mentalist who seeks to collect more medals during the 2021 edition. Ali won gold with team Kenya in the sparring category last year.
“I am more than prepared for the competition, we are working hard to ensure the Philippines, who are our perennial opponents, will not beat us at our home ground, we know this year provides a tough battle but we are highly spirited,” said Ali.
The duo now urges girl children not to shy away from taking part in Tong-IL Moo-Do Martial Arts citing many benefits that come with it.