Kenya to host inaugural U-21 Taekwondo World Championships

The Kenya Taekwondo Federation, through the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, has set the stage to host the inaugural U-21 Taekwondo Championships at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani Gymnasium in Nairobi, scheduled to take place from December 3 to 6.

The national team will consist of 16-member contenders; eight men and eight women.

Speaking after the official launch, Kenya Taekwondo Federation President Suleiman Sumba emphasized the significance of Kenya hosting the event, which has attracted strong international interest from over 80 countries.

He also confirmed that, following a successful inspection, World Taekwondo officials described Kenya’s facilities as world-class and fully aligned with global standards.

"Kenya is now recognised on the global map as a sports giant. This is the first event in Kenya that has attracted this many countries. It will raise the awareness and the economic status of the country." Sumba remarked.

The Taekwondo Head Coach, Samuel Kinyanjui, expressed confidence in securing victory in the championship. 

His optimism was grounded in Kenya’s team's recent win at the South Korea Ambassador Cup in Uganda, where the team won 11 gold, two silver, and two bronze medals.

"It was a good build-up match, and the team has a positive mindset. We got 11 gold medals, two silver, and two bronze. We are going to get good results."

He added that the team is very prepared, having undergone intense training before setting off to Uganda.

"We are very prepared because we have been training for two weeks before going to Uganda. We are continuing training, where we will go to the Ivory Coast to compete with high-profile athletes." He added.

The team captains for both genders, George Williams and Dock Stacy, both expressed pride in hosting the tournament and representing the country in a world tournament.

They both share sentiments in doing well during the tournament and bringing medals.

The national team will travel to Côte d'Ivoire for a two-week intensive training and resource mobilization camp. The move is expected to help sharpen technique, improve conditioning, and provide more exposure ahead of the global event.

Beyond sport, the championship will also advocate for climate action and environmental sustainability, aligning with their carbon-neutral theme, “Taekwondo Values for Climate Action" campaign.

The officials noted that sports play a vital role in youth empowerment, community development, and promoting peace.