Enthusiasts showcase skills in competition

Martial arts enthusiasts gathered to compete and showcase their skills on Saturday, in a tournament held in Kenya's Kiambu County on the outskirts of capital Nairobi.

The second edition of the Kung Fu Wushu Championship Tournament, sponsored by the Chinese embassy in Kenya and organized by the Kenya Kung Fu Wushu Federation, attracted 114 competitors from 13 clubs.

Participants expressed gratitude for the opportunity to train in kung fu, saying that the sport has improved their health, boosted their confidence and equipped them with self-defense skills.

Ngaruiya Njonge, chairman of the Kenya Kung Fu Wushu Federation, said the first edition of the tournament took place in 2021, after which many people have expressed interest in the sport.

Kung fu has helped to reduce the number of young people indulging in alcoholism and drug abuse in the county, he said.

Tang Jianjun, counselor at the Chinese embassy in Kenya, highlighted the benefits of wushu (martial arts), both physically and mentally, saying that it makes people strong and reduces illness and injuries.

Wushu is gradually becoming an international sport covering 158 countries and regions across five continents, Tang said.

Apart from Chinese practitioners, 300 million people worldwide are learning and practicing kung fu and tai chi, he said.

The International Olympic Committee has approved the inclusion of wushu in the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, in 2026, Tang said.

He also expressed the embassy's commitment to continuing to support the Kenya Kung Fu Wushu Federation and other China-Kenya wushu exchanges.