Kenya’s sporting spotlight intensifies this week as Nairobi prepares to stage the inaugural Under-21 World Taekwondo Championships.
The four-day global showpiece will run from today to Friday at the Kasarani Indoor Arena, drawing 77 nations and more than 450 athletes in what marks the biggest taekwondo gathering ever held on Kenyan soil.
Momentum has been building since teams and World Taekwondo officials started arriving in the capital over the weekend. Sumba confirmed that, “Every area has been checked, double-checked and aligned to international requirements.”
Kenya earned hosting rights earlier this year after receiving unanimous approval from the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) Executive Council.
The decision elevated Nairobi to the global map and affirmed Africa’s rising role in shaping the sport’s next generation. The announcement also sparked countrywide preparations that included venue upgrades, technical readiness tests and a strengthened partnership between the KTF, government agencies and event partners.
Part of the preparation has been anchored in a sustainability campaign, with the federation launching a tree-planting initiative, targeting 11,000 seedlings in line with the national greening agenda.
The organisers have insisted that the championship must be environmentally responsible and projected it to become one of the first taekwondo events to pursue carbon-neutral standards through renewable-energy support, waste-reduction plans and community outreach.
Team Kenya enters the arena with confidence, with their 16-member squad unveiled recently after weeks of intense training.
The Kenyan exponents are coming back from a strong performance at the Korea Ambassador’s Cup in Kampala, where they topped several categories. Head coach Joseph Mwanda said the team is hungry, focused, and ready to defend the home ground after final tune-up sessions and technical drills.
Competitors are required to meet WTF regulations for the under-21, including Kukkiwon certification, verified athlete licensing and birth-year eligibility, with the championship expected to run across multiple weight divisions under standard scoring and officiating protocols.
